Having missed the first four practices at voluntary Buffalo Bills OTAs, Erik Pears will not be participating in team activities until training camp, according to head coach Chan Gailey. Pears is recovering from off-season surgery (it's been reported as a hernia fix), and along with several other Bills veterans will be taking it easy until July.

Pears, who will turn 30 later this month, is coming off of a solid season in which he made 16 starts at right tackle and performed well enough to earn a three-year, $9 million contract extension last December.

Much like the situation with Stevie Johnson missing time at receiver this spring, Pears' absence is opening the door for two talented youngsters to get lots of reps with the first team. Throughout camp to this point, second-year pro Chris Hairston has been getting first-team reps in place of Pears at right tackle, while rookie second-round pick Cordy Glenn has been freed up to take the lion's share of reps on the blind side.