Bills notebook: Edwards due back behind center
The bye week has arrived at a good time for the banged-up Buffalo Bills, who are likely to get quarterback Trent Edwards back in the starting lineup for the next game at Tennessee on Nov. 15.
Coach Dick Jauron's bruised and battered team convened at One Bills Drive on Monday, a day after a dreadful 31-10 loss to the Houston Texans.
A team source confirmed that Edwards will return to the starting lineup barring any setbacks in his recovery from a concussion that forced him to miss the last two games and most of a third. Backup Ryan Fitzpatrick did win two of those games, but didn't wow anyone with his numbers, going 36 of 70 for 356 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions and a 57.8 passer rating.
"[Head trainer] Bud [Carpenter] and his staff refer to this as a transition week," Jauron said. "Now what that means is [Edwards] transitions from a little bit of work to probably full activity."
Edwards returns to a team decimated by injuries, especially on defense. The Bills were without rookie sensation Jairus Byrd, who flew to Philadelphia on Monday to meet with a doctor who specializes in the type of sports hernia injury that kept Byrd out at the start of training camp.
Jauron said the visit was for a checkup that was planned prior to Byrd leaving Sunday's game against the Texans in the fourth quarter with a groin injury.
"It hadn't kept him off the field. It hadn't really kept him out of practice, but it's been bothering him a little bit. He doesn't feel 100 percent. Now nobody in the league probably does this time of year, but with the situation ... we thought it was in everybody's best interests to get him down there," Jauron said.
It wasn't clear whether the groin injury aggravated — or was aggravated by — Byrd's previous sport hernia, but it would be a huge blow if the rookie from Oregon were forced to miss any time. His interception total, up to seven after two more against the Texans, has been one of the few positives in a thus-far dismal 2009 season.
"He's been sensational really on the field," Jauron said. "I don't want to hex him, but hopefully he'll turn out fine."
The Bills will practice today and Wednesday before taking off Thursday through Sunday for the bye week. Whether the Bills will have enough healthy players to practice, however, is another matter.
"We'll just struggle to get enough guys out there to go through it," Jauron said. "A lot of the older players probably won't be able to go, but it will be good work for a lot of the backups."
Linebacker Keith Ellison (quadriceps) and defensive end Aaron Schobel (groin) were extremely sore Monday, while right tackle Jamon Meredith suffered a sprained knee against the Texans that is expected to keep him out at least two weeks.
Fullback Corey McIntyre and defensive tackle Kyle Williams, both of whom missed Sunday's game with sprained knees, were expected to miss two to three weeks after being hurt at Carolina, so their availability for the Titans game will likely not be known until next week.
Tight end Shawn Nelson (illness) could return to practice this week, but Jauron did not sound as optimistic about Donte Whiter, saying the safety's injured ankle was still sore.
Safety Bryan Scott is fully recovered from his high-ankle sprain and is cleared to resume game action, while cornerback Terrence McGee continues to deal with a sore knee that he's played through for the last several weeks.
Linebacker Paul Posluszny took the blame for the Texans' go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter Sunday. It came on an 11-yard run by Ryan Moats up the middle. It was apparent Posluszny thought it was going to be a pass play and got sealed off inside away from the cut through the gap by Moats.
"I thought it was a boot," Posluszny said of a bootleg rollout by the quarterback. "That tight end came back and I got out of my gap. They ran right where I should have been, so that's all on me."
News Sports Reporter Mark Gaughan contributed to this report.
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