PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -So much for the Buffalo Bills’ plan to ease rookie C.J. Spiller into their running back rotation.
With starter Fred Jackson out at least a month with a broken left hand and backup Marshawn Lynch limping on a sore ankle, Spiller’s going to have to hit the ground running – and receiving and returning punts – for the remainder of the preseason at the very least.
“I haven’t talked to the coaches at all, but I’ve just got to be ready for however many reps I’m given,” the first-round pick said Monday. “It doesn’t matter to me if I have to play the whole game. This is football. This is what I love to do.”
Bills’ backfield was more significant.
Wearing a cast covering most of his lower left arm, Jackson revealed that he will miss four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his hand on the second play from scrimmage. Jackson hopes it’ll be closer to four weeks, which would put him in a position to be ready for Buffalo’s opener Sept. 12 against Miami.
He was hurt at the end of a 7-yard run while attempting to brace himself as he was being pulled down by the facemask by safety Kareem Moore, who was penalized on the play. Tests taken over the weekend confirmed that Jackson broke the fourth metacarpal bone.
“It’s a huge disappointment,” said Jackson, who finished last season as the Bills’ starter and led the team with a career-best 1,062 yards rushing. “Standing on the sideline, you can’t do much to help your team.”
Lynch, who split the starting duties with Jackson last season, was hurt later in the opening drive, at the end of a 20-yard run that was negated by an offensive holding penalty.
Following the game, coach Chan Gailey said he hoped Lynch’s injury is minor. Gailey was scheduled to meet with reporters after the team’s night practice Monday.
The Bills next host Indianapolis at Toronto on Thursday.
Jackson is confident Spiller can handle the extra workload.
gone, so hopefully he can pick up things and keep the offense moving.”
Rather than using Spiller as the featured running back, the Bills’ intention was to use his dynamic potential in several roles, from splitting out as a receiver to using him in a two-back formation alongside either Jackson or Lynch.
Now, Spiller will be sharing the duties with Chad Simpson, who previously appeared sparingly in 25 games with Indianapolis over the past two years, and undrafted rookie free agent Joique Bell. Buffalo added another running back on Monday by signing Andre Anderson, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Tulane.
It doesn’t help that Spiller’s development has already delayed after he missed the first seven days of training camp before signing his contract on Aug. 6.
“Now I’m the next guy in line to try to step up into those big shoes and try to fill them for this preseason,” Spiller said. “I’m going to try to do my best.”
The ACC’s player of the year last season, Spiller is a speedster who proved to be a versatile threat as a running back, receiver and on special teams at Clemson. He finished his four-year college career with 51 touchdowns, including 32 rushing, and joined Reggie Bush in becoming only the second player to have 3,000 yards rushing, 1,500 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving and 500 yards in punt returns.
Against Washington, Spiller had four carries for 16 yards.
ortable going into this game than I did last week,” Spiller said. “I’ve just got to step up.”
NOTES: The Bills also signed WR Aaron Rhea, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Stephen F. Austin, and placed LB Ryan Manalac on waived/injured. … Rookie third-round pick DE Alex Carrington did not practice after he was hurt early in the third quarter on Friday. … DE Spencer Johnson returned to practice for the first time since hurting his leg on July 30, the second day of training camp.
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