Bills to start rookie Nathan Peterman at QB, bench Tyrod Taylor against Chargers

Show Caption Hide Caption Fantasy football: Waiver wire gems for NFL Week 11 SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Steve Gardner tells you which players to add and which to drop heading into Week 11 of the fantasy football season.

The Buffalo Bills announced that they will start rookie Nathan Peterman — and bench Tyrod Taylor — against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Coach Sean McDermott announced the switch in a press conference Wednesday morning, less than 48 hours after reiterating that Taylor was still the team's starting quarterback. He said he made the decision by himself Tuesday morning and informed general manager Brandon Beane.

MORE: Here's how the Los Angeles Rams rebuilt Jared Goff almost overnight

MORE: NFL hot seat rankings: Can Giants' Ben McAdoo survive 'inexcusable and frustrating' year?

"Tyrod was our starter when you guys asked me that question, both Sunday and again on Monday," McDermott said. "Just like I do every week, I continued to evaluate our team, continued to evaluate our situation. Thought about it, slept on it and I felt like we needed to move in a different direction at this time."

What stuns me about this move is the Bills are 5-4 and currently in the playoff mix. The risk seems pretty big, especially going on the road to do it. — Sal Maiorana (@salmaiorana) November 15, 2017

Peterman and Taylor both played in last week's 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Taylor, who became Buffalo's starting quarterback in 2015, completed nine-of-18 passes for just 56 yards and one interception. Peterman, meanwhile, went seven for 10 for 79 yards and a touchdown in relief.

Taylor has completed 64.2% of his passes while throwing for 1,684 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions this season.

"This is not an indictment on Tyrod. He's an important part of our football team, and will continue to be an important member of our football team," McDermott said.

Sunday will mark Peterman's first NFL start. The fifth-round draft pick started his collegiate career at Tennessee and transferred to Pittsburgh, throwing for 2,855 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a senior last year.

Taylor told reporters he was "obviously disappointed" with McDermott's decision.

"I don't agree with the decision, but ultimately Coach McDermott has a vision for this team, what he feels is best for the team, as well as the owners and GM," said Taylor, a team captain. "So I have to move forward and continue to be the leader and teammate that I am from a different role."

The Bills started 5-2 but have since lost two in a row, including Sunday's loss to the Saints and a 34-21 loss to the New York Jets the previous week.

"I’ve been impressed with the maturity from Nathan Peterman," McDermott said. "I’m comfortable making a calculated risk to try and get us where we need to go."

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

PHOTOS: NFL Week 11 power rankings