The Bills will be without three players for Sunday's game against the Steelers. DL Spencer Johnson, LB Shawne Merriman and RG Eric Wood were all declared out by head coach Chan Gailey after Friday's practice.
Wood sustained an undisclosed left leg injury in last week's game against Cincinnati when he was rolled up from behind on a run play. He did not practice at all this week. He'll be replaced in the lineup by Kraig Urbik, who stepped in for him in last week's game.
For Urbik his first start for the Bills will come against the team that drafted him in the Pittsburgh Steelers, though the guard doesn't see himself getting any more motivated to play his former team.
"The juices are always going to be flowing no matter who you're playing," said Urbik. "I spent two camps with those guys. I went against their defensive linemen every day for two years, so I know their moves and what to expect from them watching film."
Johnson is still dealing with a hamstring injury that he sustained in the Bills Week 10 win over Detroit. He was replaced in the defensive line rotation by third-round pick Alex Carrington, which is expected to happen again on Sunday.
Merriman was not expected to play this week as Gailey indicated on Monday that he was not anticipating the veteran linebacker to be ready to return from a strained Achilles.
Spiller questionableRB C.J. Spiller practiced on Thursday and Friday on a limited basis and is expected to be a game time decision. Gailey listed the Bills top pick as questionable.
"I've just got to see that my hamstring is fully strengthened and that I'm full speed and I can make the normal cuts," said Spiller. "I can't be timid. In the back of your mind you're going to be thinking if I hit an extra gear what will happen. The main thing is just seeing if I can go full speed without second guessing if I have to put that extra gear in."
Provided Spiller can do that in warm-ups Sunday he'll be active for the game, but Gailey has said all along that they're going to err on the side of caution.
