Here's the news of note for Monday Nov. 14th.
**1 - Sammy Watkins won't practice this week
**He's still on injured reserve, but now six weeks removed from being placed on I-R, Sammy Watkins is now eligible to return to practice if he is cleared to do so. Head coach Rex Ryan said Monday that the Bills playmaking receiver won't be on the practice field this week.
"He is eligible to return to practice, however the trainers have said they feel he's not ready to return this week," said Ryan. "I met with Sammy and Sammy feels fantastic. But we're going to be smart with this and do what's best for him. Until all our medical people are on board with him coming back out there on the field, then we're not going to practice him. But when that time occurs and hopefully it's soon then he'll be out there."
While the window is open for Watkins to return to practice, he will not be eligible to play in a game until Week 12 against Jacksonville on Nov. 27th. Obviously he'd have to get re-acclimated to the practice setting for that to take place.
"He feels great, so hopefully that's a positive sign," said Ryan.
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2 - Competition to fill the void in the pivotWith Eric Wood expected to be lost for the season following surgery last week for a broken right leg, Buffalo has a couple of options to replace him at center. Rex Ryan confirmed Monday that he will conduct a competition between Ryan Groy and Patrick Lewis for the job.
"We'll see who steps out and who takes and earns that starting job," said Ryan. "We'll see how that plays out this week."
Groy stepped in for Wood in the Monday night game at Seattle after he was injured. He felt it went well though there were a couple of communication errors. He doesn't mind the fact that he has competition for the starting role in the absence of their Pro Bowl center.
"I'm just doing whatever I can honestly," said Groy. "Whether he's going or I'm going, I'm looking at it like I'm starting and I'm preparing like I'm starting. Getting everything down and getting comfortable with the guys next to me and moving forward."
Buffalo also has Patrick Lewis as a center option. Lewis has been inactive all season on game days to this point.
"As far as the competition, I'm just trying to earn the coaches' respect, earn the players' respect with just knowing what I'm doing and just try to go out there every day and just give my best to the football team," said Lewis.
"Ryan you feel good about him," said Ryan. "He replaced Eric when he went down and he's been doing it, but we want to give Patrick Lewis an opportunity as well. That's why both guys will work there."
3 - Henderson to get an opportunity this weekHe's been working back from his undisclosed medical condition for about a year, and heading into the final seven games of the season OT Seantrel Henderson is as close to game ready as he's been in that time frame.
"Seantrel looked outstanding last week so we're going to give him an opportunity and we'll see how things work out with Seantrel," said Ryan.
It sounds like Ryan is giving Henderson an opportunity to push Jordan Mills for the starting right tackle job.
"I get good feedback from the coaches each day after practice," said Henderson. "I'm progressing, I'm doing better. I'm helping the team on the scout team or taking the reps with the ones, whatever I can do to help the team that's good with me. As long as we win."
Henderson now has his weight up to 312 pounds and he feels comfortable there. Ideally he wants to be 315 pounds, even though he played at 331 in 2015.
With his strict diet, Henderson eats several small meals, sometimes six a day, to maintain his weight. The upside is it's the healthiest he's ever eaten in his life and he's feeling the benefits.
"I'm at where I want to be physically," Henderson said. "I think I'm stronger than I was before. I feel way more energized. I haven't had any fast food in months. I used to just eat whatever, but now that I'm eating healthy foods, non-gluten, non-dairy, it makes me feel way better. Every day I wake up I feel great."
In practice Monday during the media viewing portion, right tackle Jordan Mills was still lined up with the starters, but it's clear that Henderson will get a good look this week and could potentially replace Mills in the lineup sooner rather than later.
