Buffalo Bills running game: Jerome Felton frustrated with role

When Jerome Felton signed with the Buffalo Bills, Rex Ryan had promised a "ground and pound" mentality and the bruising fullback anticipated a heavy workload blocking for running backs. That hasn't happened and Felton is expressing his displeasure.

"Frustrating, disappointing, everything you'd think it would be" Felton explained to The Buffalo News. "I've just got to hang in there mentally and just understand that there will be a point in the season where ... I'll have a big role and I'll have to step up and answer the bell.

"But to this point, yeah, it's been a little tough."

With injuries to both of Buffalo's top running backs - LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams - and the unexpected release of Fred Jackson, Felton hasn't exactly had the backs behind him to do damage. Of McCoy's 78 carries, Felton has led the way on only 22, less that one-third of the time according to the News. Other injuries around the offense mean the starting lineup has been together for just 12 plays all season. Yikes.

The Bills obviously had Felton as a big part of their plan when they handed him a $2.6 million signing bonus and a $1 million salary but he's played just 28% of the the offensive snaps to date. Playing from behind and injuries all over the offense have conspired against the Bills and their fullback, but he hopes that changes soon.

"I’m still being positive. I’m still hopeful," Felton said. "I feel like my time will come and hopefully it will start this week. Obviously up to this point, it hasn’t been like I wanted it to be, but that can turn around in one week, so hopefully it’s this week."