The run of injuries on Buffalo's offensive line has ended a fourth lineman's season prematurely. Demetrius Bell's knee injury, which has not improved as well as initially hoped, has landed him on injured reserve with four games left in the season.
Bell, who suffered the injury in Week 10 at Tennessee, had hoped to be back in the lineup before the season was over, but early this week it became evident that wasn't going to happen.
"He worked out Monday, looked really good, but then did not participate in practice (Wednesday)," said interim head coach Perry Fewell.
Bell hasn't practiced the past three weeks, and with little chance of him being ready before the close of the season, the Bills promoted offensive tackle Andre Ramsey from the team's practice squad to fill the available roster spot.
For Bell it was an eye-opening season. The second-year offensive tackle stepped into the line's most important role at the start of the season as he became the team's starting left tackle after veteran Langston Walker was released six days before the season opener.
Bell had his ups and downs having never played in a regular season game before the Week 1 game at New England. He made eight starts in all in 2009 missing the Week 4 contest at Miami due to a groin injury and the last three games with his knee injury.
He becomes the 15th Bills player to go on injured reserve as the club is not far from surpassing their all-time high of 17 players on injured reserve in 2007.
"We haven't gotten set on offense all year because of the rotation of people going in and out," said Fewell.
With Ramsey added to the active roster Friday, he becomes the sixth different offensive tackle to appear on Buffalo's squad this season.
Ramsey (6'5" 322) is a Ball State product that was signed to Buffalo's practice squad on Sept. 23. He joined the Bills after being released by the Seahawks prior to the start of the 2009 season. Ramsey originally entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Seahawks following the 2009 draft.
