Bills’ secondary will be short-handed for Chiefs
The Buffalo Bills’ secondary could be “spread” thin Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
With cornerback Jabari Greer and strong safety Donte Whitner likely to be out with knee and shoulder injuries and nickel cornerback Ashton Youboty out for the year with a foot injury, the Bills will be short-handed against the Chiefs’ spread offense, which features multiple receiver formations.
Of course, the Bills are used to being at less than full strength.
“Our coaches do a good job of making sure that all the guys with a potential to dress are abreast on the game plan and possible situations where you may be put into the game,” said backup free safety George Wilson, who might see action at strong safety because of Whitner’s absence and Bryan Scott’s sore knee.
The Chiefs average just 181.7 passing yards per game (26th in the NFL), but in the four games since quarterback Tyler Thigpen became a starter, they’re averaging 245.5 yards (230 net). Their eight touchdown passes tie Arizona for the most in that span.
Thigpen is helped by having two of the better receivers in the league. Tight end Tony Gonzalez and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe have 55 catches each and have accounted for 10 of Kansas City’s 18 offensive touchdowns.
Gonzalez, 32, who was on the trading block earlier this season, is not as dominant as he was earlier in his Hall of Fame career. But the 12-year veteran still has the speed, athleticism and playmaking ability that allowed him to become the most productive pass-catching tight end in NFL history.
“His reputation precedes him,” Wilson said. “Everybody knows who he is because of everything he’s accomplished in his career. He causes a lot of matchup problems and is sound in the run and pass.”
Bowe has picked up where he left off last season when he led all NFL rookies with 70 catches and 995 yards.
“Just watching him on film he’s a big guy (6-foot-2, 221 pounds) who moves well and has good speed,” said cornerback Terrence McGee, who has covered Randy Moss and Braylon Edwards the last two games and might draw the assignment on Bowe.
The fewer numbers in the secondary forced the Bills to use rookies Leodis McKelvin and Reggie Corner more in recent weeks. Although McKelvin couldn’t hold on to what would have been a game-winning interception, he flashed the coverage skills that made him the 11th overall pick in the draft.
“I feel great,” said McKelvin, who likely will make his second NFL start. “I feel like I can step in and do my job just like the other times they called me in.”
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Wide receiver Josh Reed practiced again Thursday, increasing the likelihood he’ll return Sunday. He ran hard and cut sharply, showing that his high ankle sprain has finally healed.
Greer, Whitner, Scott (knee) and defensive end Aaron Schobel (foot) didn’t practice Thursday. Scott is expected to practice today and is the only one of the four who figures to play Sunday. Backup linebacker Marcus Buggs has been ruled out for Sunday and probably much longer because of a high ankle sprain.
Greer was relieved when team doctors informed him that he only sprained his knee.
“I look at what I’m going through and I’m encouraged by what the training staff is doing,” he said. “The swelling has been going down and I’m getting some range of motion.”
Whitner said his shoulder was still sore Thursday. He admitted that he probably rushed back too soon and said he’ll wait until he’s fully healthy before returning to the field.
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Gonzalez (knee) and starting wide receiver Mark Bradley (calf) practiced fully for the Chiefs on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s workout. Defensive end Tamba Hali also did everything. Two other starters, linebacker Donnie Edwards (knee/hamstring) and guard Adrian Jones (ankle), have not practiced this week.
Also this week, the Chiefs placed starting defensive end Turk McBride on injured reserve. He re-injured his right shoulder and cracked a bone in his right forearm against New Orleans last Sunday.
