PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -Buffalo Bills reserve offensive tackle Matt Murphy was driven to a hospital shortly after hurting his left shoulder during practice Monday night.
Coach Dick Jauron didn’t have an immediate update on the severity of Murphy’s injury. He said the player was having tests.
The Bills’ depth at tackle was further depleted when backup Robert Estes left practice after hurting his left leg during the team’s first session back at its suburban Rochester training camp facility since a 17-14 preseason-opening loss at Washington on Saturday.
The injuries potentially leave the Bills with three healthy tackles – starters Langston Walker and Kirk Chambers and rookie backup Demetrius Bell – available for their preseason game against Pittsburgh at Toronto on Thursday. Jauron said the team will consider adding another tackle this week.
Buffalo is already down Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, who has refused to report to camp because of a contract dispute. Peters, who is being fined by the team more than $15,000 for each day he misses, is holding out because he wants to renegotiate the final three years left on his contract.
Murphy was hurt during an 11-on-11 drill when defensive end Shaun Nua burst past him to get to quarterback Matt Baker. Murphy fell to the ground immediately and lay on the field in severe pain for several minutes as trainers and team doctor John Marzo attended to him.
After being helped up, Murphy briefly doubled over in pain before being escorted to the training facility. Gingerly holding his left arm at his chest, Murphy was soon placed into a team sport utility vehicle and taken to a hospital.
Murphy is a six-year NFL veteran who was converted by the Bills from tight end to tackle last season.
Estes was hurt a few minutes before Murphy. He got up on his own and walked to the training room.
Starting strong safety Donte Whitner returned to practice Monday after missing all of last week with a sore left ankle. Whitner, however, was hurt a half-hour into the session when he was kneed in the back of the calf. He was held out for the remainder of practice for precautionary reasons.
Receiver Roscoe Parrish, who led the Bills with 50 yards receiving against Washington, missed practice because of a sore left knee.
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