The Buffalo Bills are in the market for a middle linebacker after losing starter Kawika Mitchell and backup Marcus Buggs to knee injuries during Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Coach Dick Jauron today said both players are scheduled to have season-ending knee surgery.

Both were carried off the field on a cart, and Buggs was using crutches in the locker room.

It's going to be difficult to find a competent veteran middle linebacker as the free agent pickings are pretty slim. One possibility might be Pat Thomas, who was signed by the Bills in the offseason. But despite his four years of NFL experience, the Bills cut him after an ineffective and injury-plagued training camp and preseason.

Paul Posluszny, the regular starting middle linebacker, broke his arm in the season opener at New England and is still at least two weeks away from returning.

After giving up 472 yards rushing in losses to the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins, the Bills moved Mitchell from his weakside linebacker spot to the middle, replacing an inexperienced and ineffective Buggs. Mitchell played the middle for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2003-06.

But Mitchell's day ended on the second play of the second quarter when his right knee buckled while making a tackle on Browns running back Jerome Harrison. Buggs was hurt on special teams while covering a punt in the third quarter.

Those injuries forced the Bills to move outside linebacker Keith Ellison to the middle, while Orchard Park native Jon Corto took over at Ellison's strong side spot. Corto and rookie weakside starter Ashlee Palmer, who replaced Mitchell, took their first defensive snaps in the NFL on Sunday.

"There is no doubt about it that it is really tough," defensive tackle Kyle Williams said of playing untested backups at linebacker. "Those guys have to come in and make plays for us when they are called. It's always tough when you lose Poz and you lose Kawika and Marcus, a backup guy. It's tough and there is nothing you can really say about it other than it's hard as hell to win football games with your starters much less when you get injuries all over the place."

The offense wasn't immune to injury as right tackle Jonathan Scott suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter. Jauron had no details on Scott but didn't think his injury was serious.

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It was a rough day for Bills punt returner Roscoe Parrish, whose muff led to the Browns' game-winning field goal. Parrish had a 22-yard return, but that play was negated by a poor decision on another return that resulted in a 15-yard loss.

The Bills' all-time leader in punt return yards averaged a mere 2.3 yards on three returns Sunday. But Parrish is still not lacking in confidence.

"Go check my resume," he said. "This is football. Why should it discourage me?"

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It's not often that Bills punter Brian Moorman gets upstaged, but he did by the Browns' Dave Zastudil.

Moorman had a much better average (52.0 to 42.9), but Zastudil placed seven of his nine punts inside the Bills' 20-yard line. It was the fourth time since 1976 that a player placed seven punts inside the 20. The NFL record of eight is shared by Mark Royals for Pittsburgh in 1994 and Bryan Barker of Jacksonsville in 1999. Ex-Steeler Josh Miller was the only other punter to put seven punts inside the 20.

"We got some good bounces and the biggest thing is that the guys covered great today," said Zastudil, who had three punts downed inside the 5.

Moorman did add to his record number of games averaging more than 50 yards. Sunday was the fourth-best day for a Bills punter in terms of average. He now owns six of the top 10 punting performances in team history.

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It was a happy homecoming of sorts for Browns tight end Robert Royal and linebacker/special teams player Blake Costanzo. Both played for the Bills.

Royal didn't have the day he hoped for, dropping two catchable passes. But Costanzo came up with the biggest play of the game, recovering Parrish's fumbled punt to set up the Browns' winning field goal. Costanzo derived no satisfaction in getting revenge on the team that cut him last year.

"I respect the guys and I wish them all luck," he said. "I've got a lot of close friends on the team. Coach [Bobby] April I'm really close to and I have a lot of respect for him. He's one of the best."

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Wide receiver Terrell Owens had a season-high four catches, but that wasn't enough to make the fans happy. Owens said he understood their displeasure with the Bills' offensive performance and added he probably would have done the same thing if he was in the stands.

"They deserve more," Owens said. "These fans are passionate. Coming out, before this game we're 1-3, but you really couldn't tell it by the fans. You would've thought we were 3-1, so that in itself motivates me enough."

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Posluszny (forearm), free safety Donte Whitner (thumb), strong safety Bryan Scott (ankle) and cornerback Ellis Lankster (back) were inactive for the Bills due to injuries. Wide receiver Steve Johnson, offensive lineman Jamon Meredith and defensive end Chris Ellis were healthy scratches. Ellis missed his second straight game due to the death of his mother.