The Bills injury woes persist in Week 6 as they will be without starting strong safety Bryan Scott and right tackle Jonathan Scott for Sunday's game at Giants Stadium against the Jets. Head coach Dick Jauron declared both players out following Friday's practice.
Buffalo's strong safety will miss his third straight game due to a high ankle sprain that kept him off the practice field against this week. Scott was hopeful at the start of the week that he'd be able to practice in some capacity during the week, but it never happened.
The good news is fellow starting safety Donte Whitner is expected to play Sunday as he returns from thumb surgery. Whitner practiced fully on Thursday and Friday and is listed as probable for the game.
"I'm doing pretty well," said Whitner. "This is a thumb and I don't really need it for the rest of my life, so let's just tape it up and let's go."
Middle linebacker Paul Posluszny is also expected to start for the first time in over a month after breaking his forearm in the season opener.
"It's great to have both of them back," said head coach Dick Jauron.
With Scott still out of the lineup, Whitner will play strong safety with rookie Jairus Byrd manning centerfield at free safety.
Linebacker continues to be a battered position for the Bills. Even though Posluszny is returning to the lineup, starting strong side linebacker Keith Ellison is questionable for Sunday with an injured knee that cropped up late in the week.
Ellison was limited in practice Thursday and did not practice at all on Friday.
"I'll be alright," Ellison told Buffalobills.com following Friday's practice.
If he can't play on Sunday the Bills would have two rookie linebackers on the field Sunday flanking Posluszny in fifth-round pick Nic Harris and Ashlee Palmer, who made his first NFL start last week.
Harris got a full week of practice at linebacker this week after spending the past two weeks practicing at safety to help provide depth there when both Scott and Whitner were out with injuries. The rookie says he feels he has re-acclimated himself to his original position after three weeks of position switching.
"That's the NFL I guess," said Harris. "I feel good about linebacker. I never lost it."
Meredith to start
On the offensive side of the ball, Jamon Meredith is expected to make his first NFL start at right tackle in place of Jonathan Scott, who is out with an ankle injury. Scott did not practice at all during the week. Meredith along with left tackle Demetrius Bell will make up the fourth different tackle tandem for the Bills.
"It's a great opportunity and I'm looking forward to the challenge," said Meredith.
Buffalo will have three rookies on their offensive line Sunday in Andy Levitre, Meredith and Eric Wood.
