Bills vs. Jets Injury Update: Expect Split Reps At LT

by Brian Galliford on Nov 3, 2011 5:27 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey has never been shy about rotating offensive linemen during one game since his arrival last season, and that trend is reportedly expected to continue this Sunday against the New York Jets. With left tackle Chris Hairston still limited - but likely to play - Gailey told reporters on Thursday that the rookie could split reps with left guard-turned-left tackle fill-in Andy Levitre.

Hairston is one of three players - along with receiver Donald Jones and corner Aaron Williams - trying to return from injury. While Hairston and Williams remain limited this week, however, Jones was a full participant on Thursday - though Gailey cautions he's still not 100 percent.

Chris Kelsay was added to the injury report, as his calf issue has flared back up. He's still expected to play - as is quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has been limited this week by a chest injury suffered on a hit from London Fletcher last week.

The team only had two non-participants on Thursday: left tackle Demetrius Bell (shoulder) and defensive tackle Kyle Williams (foot). Both players will be out on Sunday.

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Comments

Broken ribs? Wouldnt surprise me. Could be a real bummer.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Nov 3, 2011 5:32 PM EDT reply actions

That wouldn’t surprise me one bit. He will play through the pain though… I don’t even want to think about Thigpen starting.

Hopefully Kelsay gets some more rest for the game.

Is this your homework, Larry?

by Schooled You on Nov 3, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Interesting, gives an advantage to the Jets

Fitz would spend more time in the pocket rather than tucking and running if nothing was available to him.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Nov 3, 2011 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

The Bills will counter that advantage though

Interesting, gives an advantage to the Jets

Fitz would spend more time in the pocket rather than tucking and running if nothing was available to him.

By having the Jills Cheer without shoes to mess with Rex’s Coaching Ability..

by 3nOutNoMore on Nov 3, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs

Brilliantly done, sir

by Future Considerations on Nov 3, 2011 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions

is there a foot fetish here I dont know about?

by PayUrBills on Nov 3, 2011 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Rex Ryan was caught

Sexy rex was on some foot fetish viodeos.. Google it and see for your self

by webadinc on Nov 3, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no idea what that means

however what I do know is that Fitz has had the 2nd most rush attempts on the team due to Jones being out and delegating CJ Spiller to a WR role.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Nov 3, 2011 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Rush attempts

I think most of Fitz ‘runs’ have actually been kneel-downs, except he kind of squats instead of kneeling.

by zipper on Nov 3, 2011 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions

kneel downs actually count as "rush attempts"?

meh, okay still the 2nd most on the team. and still terrifying when compared to the rest of the team’s “rushers”.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Nov 3, 2011 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

due to Jones being out and delegating CJ Spiller to a WR role.

Thats not why… hes a pretty mobile QB and Gailey coaches the QB run as a read against many defenses. Look at his stats last year.

Fitz out-rushed CJ Spiller last year on a per game basis.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Nov 3, 2011 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh I thought it was related to it.

But it still relates to my original point, if Fitz has a rib injury he may think twice before tucking and running.

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Nov 3, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Nov 4, 2011 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions

funny

lol

by webadinc on Nov 3, 2011 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

lets not be too optomistic!? (Joke) but maybe it isnt a broke rib/s … and it is just bruised .. i would thinnk that it would take more than a week for the swelling to completely heal ..

by khameleon59 on Nov 4, 2011 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Rest Fitz all week

He needs to go on Sunday…no Thigpen…:(

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 3, 2011 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

yeah I'm surprised we didn't sit him on Wednesday

by the landriest on Nov 3, 2011 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

makes since

Either way Thigpen we need the work with the first team.

by webadinc on Nov 3, 2011 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Meatball/Bell

At the start of the season I would have said (with the exception of Fitz) that these two injuries would have the biggest impact on our team. However I am optimistic we can temper the blitz with Fitz’s fast release and that Dareus can manage the NT position well enough.

With all of todays information I would say the most significant injuries would be Fitz (of course), Stevie, Mcgee, then Barnett. We cant afford to lose any of those guys.

by billshabsriders on Nov 3, 2011 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

those 2 injuries HAVE had an impact, a POSITIVE one!
It’s allowed the depth players to step up and show what they got. A Carrington/Dareus line combo is the future (some sad day when poor Meatball rolls onto the floor), and Hairston as well.

by dgrid on Nov 3, 2011 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with you 100% @ dgrid

by khameleon59 on Nov 4, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m hoping that Meatball can have an impact at DE even though he’s got short arms, he is such a hustler and hard worker out there that I think he can be better at DE than at NT. If not, it’s still a great problem to have because we could fetch a very decent draft pick in a trade.. Either way great job Chix!

Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience

by keysh67 on Nov 4, 2011 5:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Ever so slooowwwly, getting healthier each day.

Overall, not too banged up for a team at the halfway mark.

Good thing, eh?

"There is not a loser in this room." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Nov 3, 2011 6:19 PM EDT reply actions

I hope you didn't just jinx us!!!

Is this your homework, Larry?

by Schooled You on Nov 3, 2011 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

true …

by khameleon59 on Nov 4, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Hope Fitz is all right...

he’s the only Bills quaterback I liked since Kelly Holcomb.

by JJS on Nov 3, 2011 6:44 PM EDT reply actions

Kelly?

I think you meant to put Kelly as the last name of the last quarterback you liked.

by BillieverSince89 on Nov 3, 2011 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

no! I didn't...

oh wait, I should of found that funny…oh…ha ha ha…that is so funny…ha ha

by JJS on Nov 4, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

that the rookie could split reps with left guard-turned-left tackle fill-in Andy Levitre.

Does this mean that Rinehart will play LG full-time this game, and Levitre will sit while Hairston is in, or will Levitre slide to LG and Rinehart will sit when Hairston is in?

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Nov 3, 2011 7:53 PM EDT reply actions

It sounds like he will sit since he's hurting also now.

This is going to get dicey, especially next week against D. Ware…

"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop

by lonestar_ak on Nov 3, 2011 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Makes sense – thx.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Nov 3, 2011 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Levitre will be starting at LT and Rinehart at LG. I think the plan is to spell Levitre if he needs it. See Bills website.

by AP22 on Nov 3, 2011 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m praying our line takes good care of Fitz considering the Jets will be targeting his chest. If worse comes to worst, someone can concuss Thigpen with a football to the helmet so we can bring out Brad Smith, Cj Spiller, and Fredex in a fullon wildcat.

by AndyOffGeneseeSt. on Nov 3, 2011 8:02 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Levitre's the man

My Andy Levitre jersey just came in the mail today!!!

by Longhorns52 on Nov 3, 2011 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Meatball

When do you think MEATBALL will return? Also if they do will they bring Jasper in off the practice squad?

by sebass on Nov 3, 2011 9:01 PM EDT reply actions

The heck with Meatball.

The Bills have their starter at nose tackle in Dareus who is a bigger, stronger, quicker version of “Meatball”. I can’t see Meatball replacing him except to give Dareus a rest. If the Bills go to a 4 man front, they can both line up as tackles.

by Coach Bob on Nov 4, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Williams has provided seasons’ worth of dominant play at NT…Dareus has provided one game’s worth. Please, let’s take our foot off the gas pedal.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 4, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't say years

I wouldn’t exactly say years of dominant nose tackle play since they were not running a 3-4 until Gailey got here. They don’t use him in the classic sense of a nose tackle because he is undersized. Dareus provides that kind of size. Hey if were up to me, I would run a 4-3 with Williams and Dareus as my tackles. The bottom line is this, Dareus is better suited for playing NT regardless of who our fan favorites are. You saw that last Sunday and you will see it this Sunday.

by Coach Bob on Nov 4, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Again, I reiterate, it was 1 week against a bad OL. Dareus may be a prototypical NT in size, but he hasn’t proved he’s better at playing the position, in any way, than Williams yet, who has played some form of DT dominantly for two seasons.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Nov 4, 2011 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't care who plays LT

As long as Maybin gets no sacks and is pancaked a couple of times….

"Football is NOT a contact sport - it is a collision sport.
Dancing IS a contact sport."

Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State

by Goose22 on Nov 4, 2011 7:18 AM EDT reply actions

What's the deal

Why do the Bills keep lying about the severity of Bell’s shoulder injury? He did not strain his shoulder after this much time off. He either has a torn labrum or some type of rotator cuff issue or both but probably requiring surgery. I’ve had too shoulder surgeries, in which, therapy is always the first option. Whether or not the shoulder responds positively to therapy ( which is BS ) determines whether or not a person needs surgery. Long term fixes always require surgery. I am dismayed by the fact that the Bills have not disclosed the injury information further, an MRI would have precisely disclosed the type and extent of the injury.

by Coach Bob on Nov 4, 2011 8:39 AM EDT reply actions

typo, two shoulder surgeries

by Coach Bob on Nov 4, 2011 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions

They’re not lying. Chan Gailey came right out and said that it’s not healing as quickly as they expected it to. They don’t need to be any more honest than that – in fact, that’s more honesty than you get from pretty much any other NFL team.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Nov 4, 2011 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions

So what is the injury exactly?

by Coach Bob on Nov 4, 2011 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

Thought

I thought it was originally listed as a shoulder strain. When they said it would be three to four weeks initially, I questioned the prognosis. Typically strains last no longer than a couple of weeks, max. To date I have not seen anything saying it was a tear, whether labrum or rotator cuff, requiring that type of rehab period. Maybe I missed it, but it is definitely not a strain. I am beginning to believe that he is going to end up on IR.

by Coach Bob on Nov 4, 2011 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

They never said strain – they just said that the injury was in his shoulder. The Bills – and when I say “the Bills,” I mean the coaching/training staff – never get more detailed than revealing where the injury is. When you hear that Donald Jones has a high ankle sprain – and he does – it’s because Jones himself revealed that to reporters.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Nov 4, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions