ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone made a much-needed move that many anticipated Wednesday when he inserted veteran Kraig Urbik back into the starting lineup in place of rookie Cyril Richardson at left guard.

Urbik, a starter the previous three years at right guard, apparently did not impress Marrone much in 2013, his first year with the team. Urbick was relegated to the bench this season after the acquisition of free-agent Chris Williams and the drafting of three offensive linemen, including Richardson, who was the lone true guard in that group.

Urbik has been limited to 55 offensive snaps while serving as the backup swing guard and center.

“We brought Chris in, he played two games and we won both, and we liked what we saw in him, and the other guys were playing better,” Marrone said. “(Urbik) made the team and he has to be ready to step up and go if he gets the call on Sunday.”

When Williams went down during the third game with a season-ending back injury, Urbik took his place and that’s when he amassed all 55 of his snaps. He hasn’t played an offensive down in any of the other six games.

Richardson, a fifth-round pick from Baylor who was inactive the first three games, became the starter in Week 4 at Houston, but in the past four games, he has been one of Buffalo’s worst players.

After the offensive line gave up six sacks last week to Minnesota, Marrone said he’d be looking at everything, and this is the move he’s making, bringing in Urbik.

“Is it a game where they could play better? It’s the inconsistency that gets you upset,” Marrone said of the offensive line, which is particularly galling for him since he’s an old offensive lineman and offensive line coach.

“There are times out there where there’s a great pocket and no one around (Orton) and there are times where there’s not a great pocket around him. That’s what gets you frustrated; that type of inconsistency.”

Urbik has been asked on a few occasions why he fell out of favor. Asked again Wednesday, he said, “I’m not going to get into that. I’m very fortunate to be in there right now and I’m looking forward to the next game.”

Asked if the coaching staff ever told him why, he said they hadn’t provided an explanation.

His attitude is that now he has a chance to prove himself, so he has to do it.

“I’m definitely ready every week, preparing like I’m the starter,” he said. “Being the backup who dresses on game day, you’re always one play away from starting. So I prepare every week like I’m starting, and I’ll be ready.”

It’s a big week for the line as it must deal with the talented front of the New York Jets, led by Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, and augmented by the likes of Calvin Pace, Quinton Coples, Jason Babin, and Demario Davis.

“Great against the run, very good against the pass, they’re a very good bunch, every one of those guys can flat out play, even the backups, the guys we don’t talk about it,” Marrone said. “It’s going to take our best to play well; it’s going to be a big challenge for us.”

According to the analytics site ProFootballFocus.com, the Bills have the worst guard play in the NFL. Of 78 players graded at the two spots, right guard Erik Pears is dead last and Richardson is 75th. When Williams was healthy, he was also near the bottom of the list.

Interestingly, PFF’s grades revealed a severe problem at left guard last season for the Bills. The two guys who played, Doug Legursky and Colin Brown, ranked 63rd and 78th, respectively, out of the 81 graded players. Urbik was the right guard last year and he graded out as the 20th-best guard.

NOTES: RB C.J. Spiller was put on the injured reserve/designated to return list after undergoing surgery to repair his broken collarbone. The earliest he could return is Week 16, but it seems like a long shot that it could happen. … RB Fred Jackson will be inactive against the New York Jets because of a groin injury. … WR Sammy Watkins leads all NFL receivers with a 77.1 percent success rate converting first downs. In all, 27 of his 35 receptions have gone for first downs. … RB Phillip Tanner was signed off Dallas’ practice squad and added to the Bills’ 53-man roster to serve as a third running back and to play special teams. He will probably fill some of the kicking game duties of Anthony Dixon, who figures to have more time on offense.