If there is one thing James Hardy has learned this summer it is patience. The Buffalo Bills’ second-year wide receiver suffered a serious knee injury late last season. Just shy of eight months after surgery he is waiting for medical clearance to get back on the field.

“This has been a long, slow process,” Hardy said this week. “I really wish I could be on the field with the rest of the guys. It’s tough standing around and watching them play. Not being able to play makes you appreciate the game a lot more.”

Drafted in the second round last year, the 6-foot-5 Hardy was thought to give the Bills a big red zone target they lacked. But he was slow to adapt, physically and mentally, to the pro game.

He started two games, but was never a factor in the passing game, finishing with just nine catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. The coaches believed Hardy was starting to get it when his season was ended by the knee injury during a Dec. 14 game at the New York Jets.

Hardy had targeted Thursday’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions for his return. But he’s still on the physically unable to perform list, and it is very likely he could remain on PUP at the start of the regular season, which would mean he wouldn’t be eligible to play until Week Seven.

The Bills could opt to place him on season-ending injured reserve, but that’s not under consideration at this point.

“He is coming along, and if you talk to anybody in our organization about him, everybody, I believe, would agree that he’s really done a terrific job of rehabbing,” coach Dick Jauron said. “He’s bigger, he’s stronger, he’s moving well and I do believe there is a chance of him helping us in the first half of the season.”

For now though, Hardy is relegated to doing rehabilitation drills under the supervision of the Bills’ trainers and running routes against young defensive backs after practice. He’s also been bending the ear of veteran Terrell Owens, who has taken the young wideout under his wing.

“I feel like I’m close to 100 percent,” Hardy said. “I just have to be patient about this. But my time will come.”

Bills punter Brian Moorman is headed to Kansas this weekend where he will be inducted into Pittsburg State University’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

Moorman was the most decorated athlete in the school’s history when he graduated in 1999. He was a first-team Division II All-American punter in each of his last two seasons (1997-98) and was honorable mention from 1995-96. Moorman still holds the Gorillas’ career punting record (43.97-yard average) and he was named to the school’s 100th anniversary football team in 2003.

Moorman was even better in track and field, earning All-America recognition 10 times and winning three consecutive NCAA national championships in the 400-meter hurdles from 1997-99.

Most of the Bills’ starting offensive line played through the first quarter, but rookie guards Eric Wood and Andy Levitre remained in the game during the second quarter.

Two Bills suffered injuries Thursday.

Backup center Brandon Rodd suffered a strained knee ligament and backup running back Xavier Omon did not play in the second half because of a calf contusion.

Cornerback Reggie Corner’s interception in the second quarter gave the Bills eight this preseason. They entered the game tied for second in the NFL. Corner had three interceptions to lead the team.

Rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin added a forced fumble on a sack, his second in as many games. The Bills had 11 takeaways in five games.