The Buffalo Bills entered their Week 3 contest with the New Orleans Saints already down multiple starters. RT Brad Butler and TE Derek Schouman were placed on Injured Reserve last week. MLB Paul Posluszny has missed two straight games, and will miss a few more, as he recovers from a broken arm.
Add FS Donte Whitner and CB Leodis McKelvin to the list.
Whitner is having surgery on his thumb today, according to BuffaloBills.com (citing today's Dick Jauron press conference). Jauron called Whitner "week to week," but the fourth-year safety has not yet been ruled out of next Sunday's game in Miami.
McKelvin has a cracked fibula, and Jauron mentioned that his injury would be a more significant time loss than Whitner's week-to-week prognosis. McKelvin was capably replaced in the starting lineup by Drayton Florence - who made his Bills debut yesterday - while Whitner's reps were split between Jairus Byrd and George Wilson.
Whitner's running mate at safety, Bryan Scott, is getting an MRI today on the ankle he injured in Sund
Other Bills dealing with injuries: TE Shawn Nelson (shoulder), TE Derek Fine (arm), OT Demetrius Bell (groin), C Geoff Hangartner (back), DT John McCargo (calf), and CB Terrence McGee (ankle). Receivers Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish were both listed on the injury report last week as well. All of these players have different degrees of seriousness on their injuries, but right now, the Whitner and McKelvin injuries are the closest to long-term injuries.