"Ryan Fitzpatrick will make his first career home start for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday when the Houston Texans visit Ralph Wilson Stadium.

It might not be on an interim basis, either.

Despite starting quarterback Trent Edwards being medically cleared to return to practice after suffering a concussion Oct. 18 against the New York Jets, Bills coach Dick Jauron declared him out for Sunday's game, and more importantly would not commit to him as the starter when he is fully recovered.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," is all Jauron had to say about who might start when Edwards is healthy enough to play. Houston Chronicle staff discusses injuries and the Buffalo Bills.

Fitzpatrick was unspectacular in leading the Bills to a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers. He finished 11 of 22 for 123 yards and a touchdown, but the biggest number in his stat line was a zero. That's the number of turnovers he committed, a trait that will endear him to Jauron. Prior to being hurt against the Jets, Edwards had thrown five interceptions in his previous three games.

"The key thing in [the Carolina] game for us was we protected the football," Jauron said. "I thought Ryan handled the game well. He put us in the things we need to be in. They weren't always successful but he got us in them — so he managed the game well."

When updating the status of his injured players Monday, Jauron had a curious moment. After running through the list, the coach said, "I'm trying to think if there are any more ..."

He was then reminded that he had failed to talk about his starting QB.

"He [Edwards] is just following right along in the protocol for a head injury," Jauron said.

"Trent will not play this week. That's the, as far as I understand it from [head trainer] Bud [Carpenter] and our doctors, that's the proper protocol. That's the conservative approach and that's the approach we'll take.""