Buffalo Bills Lose Kraig Urbik, Demetrius Bell For Season Finale

by Brian Galliford on Dec 27, 2011 8:45 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

The Buffalo Bills were already banged up along the offensive line, and now they'll be down two more players when they wrap up their regular season schedule against the New England Patriots this Sunday. Kraig Urbik and Demetrius Bell were both injured in the win over Denver, and both will not play in Week 17.

Urbik's loss is far more significant, as he had put together a strong year as the full-time starting right guard, and had been impressive as Eric Wood's replacement at center. An impending restricted free agent, Urbik may be a player that the Bills try to lock down for the foreseeable future this off-season if they're comfortable with his prognosis and overall health.

Bell, who missed half of the season with a collarbone injury, hurt his knee and ankle against Denver. An impending unrestricted free agent, the oft-injured Bell may have trouble getting another look from Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey given his inherent unreliability due to his injury history.

Chris Hairston will replace Bell on Sunday (and perhaps permanently), while Colin Brown will get the nod at center. The team currently only has six healthy offensive linemen, so it's likely that at least one will be added to the active roster in the next day or two.

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Injury makes Bell's return more likely

As Mark Gaughn points out in this morning’s Buffalo News, Demetrius Bell’s current injury may make his return to the Bills MORE likely than it was before he went down. He will not be as pricey a commodity on the FA market as a result of this injury and the Bills as a result may decide he is an affordable vet to keep on the team as a swing OT if not as a starter. From his standpoint, he may want to stay with the Bills while he is rehabbing. We will have to wait to see what happens, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Bell is on the roster next year.

by Macktruck on Dec 27, 2011 9:50 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I hope you and Gaughn are right, but fear someone will pay him big $

by GPSjr on Dec 27, 2011 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

I get the logic, and have used it, but the obvious retort is that the latest injury will make the Bills LESS likely to retain him because it doesn’t make sense to pay a player that’s constantly hurt.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 27, 2011 10:25 AM EST up reply actions

LT

needs to play 16 games, or close to it.

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by Blood, sweat & Win on Dec 27, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

Yes, it could go either way. I was just passing along what Gaughn suggested.

by Macktruck on Dec 27, 2011 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

That doesn't make sense

Considering some of the players the Bills employ….

If they re-sign Bell as a potential starter, backup to Hairston (or hopefully someone better), or as the swing tackle, that’s good value and gives the Bills a solid player as the 3rd tackle at the very least.

I think Bell is a better player than Hairston, but with injury it does make it hard to make that argument valid. I hope they push to re-sign him.

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by Kurupt on Dec 27, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions

I wouldn’t mind if they re-signed him, either. But it doesn’t make sense to re-sign a player if that man rarely plays.

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by Brian Galliford on Dec 27, 2011 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

I’m not so sure they’re quick to bring back an oft-injured player at one of the game’s most important positions.

I mean, is Bell EVER healthy?

"Go check on the ribs!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 27, 2011 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

The same argument could apply to Eric Wood, who has missed as much time due to injury as Bell. The question is whether Bell (or Wood, for that matter) is especially susceptible to injury, or whether he has simply had some bad luck. That’s a question that the Bills medical staff will have to answer. Those of us who are fans are not in a position even to make a guess.

by Macktruck on Dec 27, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Wood's contract doesn't end this season

Kind of makes a big difference, plus Eric is just plain better. I think you bring back Bell if he comes at the right price at this point but a real and good tacle or even 2 have to be in the plans somewhere still. I hope we do draft one or go after one.
I was very impressed with Brown both in this game and when he played a little before. He is a giant and a bruiser. I wonder if he can play OT either side. I like Pears but he really has had some problems with speed rushers this season.
I look forward to seeing what they do in a unit where they seem to have have some decent depth at next year. Have to give the Oline coach, Gailey and Nix some credit for how they got these players and plugged them in. I also think Fitz’s abilities have something to do with it.

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by zoomer02 on Dec 27, 2011 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

I certainly wasn’t suggesting cutting Eric Wood. My point was simply that it’s not easy to figure out whether a player is really injury-prone. Sometimes they just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in a game when injuries are almost inevitable. Whether Bell is more susceptible to getting hurt than other OT’s is a question that I don’t think any of us can answer without access to expert medical knowledge. He did play all of last season without injury, but then again he had a very hard time staying on the field in 2011.

by Macktruck on Dec 27, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions

Yep

Thats why I don’t consider this O/L a positive. And Chan is underrated for just the reasons you give for our injury history. It’s sad but a recurring issue in NFL, injuries, hence why you put your investment in a franchise qb. Rules and such make this a qb’s game be nice if Buffalo would play!

If you didn't like my last post wait till you read the next! :) Until we draft/acquire franchise QB we'll be setting records for losing soon!

by buffalobacker on Dec 28, 2011 1:07 AM EST up reply actions

I wish the Bills would apply that logic to Merriman.

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by kaisertown on Dec 27, 2011 11:07 AM EST up reply actions

his contract only has a year left

And him more than some others IMO are totally "what do you have to lose. Roscoe P. now there is a question that needs answering.

by zoomer02 on Dec 27, 2011 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

Time to bring in Japser!

by DynamicHero22 on Dec 27, 2011 9:58 AM EST reply actions

If he’s ready, I agree!

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by ChuckBuffInFlo on Dec 27, 2011 9:58 AM EST up reply actions

why not

I want to see him play. This game should be used as a tool to watch rookies.

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by billsoferie on Dec 27, 2011 10:21 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I disagree. It’s the first game most upstate fans will be able to see in what seems like months. I think they need to play like this is their SB.

"Go check on the ribs!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 27, 2011 10:54 AM EST up reply actions

and sustain more injuries

That will affect next season?

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Dec 27, 2011 11:30 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

http://twitter.com/#!/Martin_Fischman/status/151701165623619586

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by m_young28 on Dec 27, 2011 12:57 PM EST up reply actions

Good call,it just happened.

Ron Paul 2012

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Dec 27, 2011 2:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

how significant are these

And woods injury for next year. This is a huge bummer.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Dec 27, 2011 10:26 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Wood already had his surgery

Should be good to go again by the season opener (according to the team). I really do hope he can stay healthy.

by zoomer02 on Dec 27, 2011 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

shaky O Line Outlook for 2012

The O Line just went from a potential strength in 2012 to a major concern.

If Urbik tore his ACL, he will not likely join the team until week 6 (pup). It is questionable whether Wood will be ready for the start of the season, let alone camp. If the team re-signs Bell he mayor may not be ready far camp. That means the Bills could very well go into camp with Hairston as the starter at LT and 2/3 of the interior line changed over from the start of the 2011 season.

While I view the Bills greatest need being a pass rusher(s), the O line just climbed up the ladder of needs. I do not feel comfortable with zhairston pencilled in at LT without another, minimally average, LT on the roster. r

by WhatGoesAround on Dec 27, 2011 12:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

And even with Kalil off the board, J. Martin and R. Reiff will still be on the board….

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Dec 27, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

Don't worry- Pats are in the same boat.

LT: Matt Light missed last game due to a pregame injury, and could possibly be held out of this week to rest up for the playoffs. Rookie Nate Solder would get the start.
LG: Logan Mankins actually took Light’s spot at LT and promptly sprained his MCL. They’re holding him out until the playoffs. Journeyman and recently signed veteran Donald Thomas would get the start.
C: Dan Koppen was lost in week 1. Dan Connolly filled in until he injured his groin. Then Ryan Wendell got the start, but injured his calf. Practice Squad center Nick McDonald got a couple of starts. Connolly seems to have returned from his injury and will most likely be playing center for the sake of experience.
RG: Dan Connolly started the season at right guard, but slid over to center because of the injury to Koppen. Luckily, the Patriots had signed veteran guard Brian Waters who has been the most consistent starter for the offensive line. He’s a little dinged up, but he’ll play.
RT: Sebastian Vollmer is out with a back injury and his normal replacement is Nate Solder, who could be sliding over to left tackle. That means fellow rookie and cancer survivor Marcus Cannon would get the start at right tackle.

So in summary:
LT: Rookie
LG: Veteran off the street
C: ????
RG: ~~Profit~~ Waters, who is playing extremely well.
RT: Rookie

Not the best look, but the Patriots’ll be in the same boat as the Bills.

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by Richard Hill on Dec 27, 2011 2:30 PM EST reply actions