Former Georgia QB Jake Fromm had one of the more unusual rookie seasons in the NFL as the emergency or “COVID quarterback” for the Buffalo Bills as he was kept away from players on the active roster as the team made a run to the AFC Championship.

But in comments to ESPN after the season, Bills general manager Brandon Beane struck an optimistic tone about Fromm’s future next season. The biggest question for the Bills at QB next season after whether Josh Allen receives a contract extension, is who will be Allen’s backup, Matt Barkley or Fromm.

“Jake Fromm had the most un-normal year a player could ever have, to have to come in here and be the COVID quarantine quarterback,” Beane told Marcel Louis-Jacques. “I thought he handled it greatly. In his exit meeting we just praised him for staying true. He would literally be back there hearing the call in his helmet, and while Josh (Allen) or Barkley are going back (in the pocket), he’s going back just like he’s making the throw from 20 yards back. He stays after and throws with the practice squad.

“Really tough year for him, but … it will help him going into next offseason. He’ll be excited to be able to sit in the quarterback room within six or seven feet of the other guys.”

At the end of the 2020 season, Allen noted how unusual and difficult it was for Fromm.

“It’s not an easy ask, to put a guy who’s played his entire career and just kind of say, ‘Go over there and stay away from everybody,'” Allen said. “He’s handled it with a lot of pride. He takes pride in his work, and it’s good to see a guy like that go in there and do his job. He’s been a pleasure to be around, he’s grown a lot since he first got here, and he’s been awesome in the quarterback room.”