C.J. Spiller injury: Buffalo Bills clear runner for potential Week 16 return

C.J. Spiller may be on the verge of returning to the Buffalo Bills' offensive backfield. At the very least, he's going to end an injury-shortened 2014 campaign on the active roster.

Bills head coach Doug Marrone confirmed as much on Monday, saying that Spiller would be added to the 53-man roster this week, likely in time for the beginning of the team's practice preparations for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday. Buffalo will need to clear a roster space for Spiller, so there will be a corresponding roster move.

Marrone would not, by the way, commit to Spiller being available to play on Sunday in Oakland, instead deferring to the standby reply of needing to see how he performs in practice first.

Spiller has missed the last seven games while recovering from October 20 surgery to repair a broken collarbone, which he suffered in the Bills' Week 7 win over Minnesota. The Bills placed him on IR with a designation to return at that point, and as part of that process, he began practicing with the team two weeks ago, prior to their loss in Denver. He was officially cleared to play on Monday.

Buffalo's moribund offense could use a few big plays in their final two games, particularly if they're going to win both and perhaps sneak into the postseason. Prior to his injury, Spiller was in the midst of a seven-game stretch in which he was struggling to earn much playing time. On the season, he has 69 carries for 287 yards, 14 receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown, and a kick return for a score in Week 2, as well.