Bills starting right tackle Cornell Green is going to be out of action for the foreseeable future after suffering an undisclosed injury in last Sunday's game against Jacksonville.
"The only guy that it looks like we'll not have for a while now is Cornell Green," said head coach Chan Gailey. "It looks like we'll miss him for a while."
Gailey said the injury is not season ending, but did not disclose the nature of the injury. He's not required to in this the Bills bye week. Green did miss time in the preseason due to a knee injury suffered in training camp.
Gailey did say that the veteran tackle had been fighting through a nagging problem, and also confirmed that the injury would not require surgery. Nevertheless, the injury should keep Green sidelined until midseason.
"It's just stuff he's been dealing with and it got a little worse and he pushed it too far last week," said Gailey. "It's (going to) cost him a few games."
Set to step in for Green at the starting right tackle position is undrafted rookie Cordaro Howard. Howard has played in each of Buffalo's five games this season. He stepped in for an injured Andy Levitre in Week 2 at Green Bay and began spelling Demetrius Bell for a series or two per game in Week 3 at New England.
"I've got my confidence now that I can play regardless of what kind of situation I have to go into, so it's definitely helped that I've been able to play all these weeks," said Howard.
Last Sunday Howard stepped in for Green in the fourth quarter after he left with his undisclosed injury. Howard naturally is excited about inheriting a full time role.
"That's what you prepare for," said Howard. "Any time someone goes down you prepare to step in and play. He got banged up during the game last week so I spelled him there. Now with the role I'll get a few days here at practice and do what I've been doing."
Howard has no preference for right or left tackle, but knows he has to anticipate more powerful players coming off the right side of the Bills offensive formation than some of the speed players he's faced on the left side in recent weeks. The rookie is expected to be facing the Ravens' Jarrett Johnson a good portion of Buffalo's Week 7 game at Baltimore.