Bills starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick needs only two touchdown passes Sunday to become the third quarterback in team history to throw 25 or more in a season. His injured right knee however, may not give him that chance.
Fitzpatrick missed his second straight day of practice Thursday due to a knee injury suffered in last week's game against New England. Head coach Chan Gailey is holding out hope that Fitzpatrick is well enough to practice Friday.
"Fitz's knee is still bothering him enough that he couldn't practice (Thursday)," Gailey said. "We'll see how he feels (Friday)."
At this point Gailey is unsure about whether or not Fitzpatrick will be healthy enough to play on Sunday against the Jets.
"When a guy doesn't practice you're concerned," said Gailey. "So I don't know. We hope he can make it, I don't know if he will or not to be honest with you."
Fitzpatrick was not even on the practice field observing Thursday, something he did on Wednesday.
Handling first team reps the past two days was backup quarterback Brian Brohm, who has welcomed the heavier workload.
"You always want to be out there with the first team no matter what position you're playing," Brohm told Buffalobills.com. "It's been good to get the reps and get the work. I feel like I've been getting better each day of practice."
One benefit for Brohm is a lot of the receivers now in the lineup for the Bills are also former reserves that have been thrust into more prominent roles. So there already is a level of comfort between Brohm and those receivers.
"There definitely is (comfort)," said Brohm. "Paul Hubbard has been pulled up and he's a guy I've been able to throw to on the scout team and on the second team. Naaman (Roosevelt), I've had a lot of work with him and I've been getting a lot of work with Stevie (Johnson). All those guys I feel very comfortable with in terms of how they run their routes and we just need to go out there and play football on Sunday."
Gailey made it clear on Wednesday that if Fitzpatrick is fit to play he will start on Sunday, but didn't seemed concerned about the possibility of having to play Brohm.
"If it comes to that I don't have a problem with it," he said.
Even if Fitzpatrick is healthy enough to practice on Friday, Brohm feels the past two days of work will be enough for him to perform on Sunday if necessary.
"I've been preparing all year long to go out there and play so I feel like I'm ready to go," said Brohm. "If I'm needed and called upon to play I'll feel as ready as I'll ever be."
Jones has setbackReceiver Donald Jones suffered a setback regarding a head injury suffered last week against New England. After missing practice Wednesday, the rookie receiver also missed practice Thursday.
"We've got a setback on Donald," said Gailey. "He's not ready to practice."
Jones suffered the head injury when he landed on his shoulder and head on the frozen turf while attempting to make a reception along the far sideline in the loss to the Patriots. He did re-enter the game last week a short time after that play.
Gailey could not confirm that Jones suffered a concussion.
"I don't know if they've said that, but he got it knocked around," he said. "I don't want to say it is (a concussion), until they tell me officially what they're saying it is. I know they're doing a bunch of tests on him and he has to pass a bunch of stuff before he can play."
If Jones is unable to play Sunday it could leave the Bills with just three healthy receivers on the active roster. David Nelson has also been unable to practice due to a rib injury.
Buffalo does have a pair of receivers on their practice squad in Bobby Williams and Rod Windsor.
