The short list of healthy receivers on the Buffalo Bills' roster just keeps getting shorter.
Buffalo's latest loss is seven-year veteran Roscoe Parrish, who was carted off the sideline in the second quarter of Sunday's shootout victory with a left ankle injury. He was hurt while blocking during a 19-yard Steve Johnson pass reception.
This is the third injury to the receiving corps and could mean a second long-term absence in the squad. Head coach Chan Gailey didn't say much about the injury Monday but was less than optimistic about Parrish's return any time soon.
“It's more long term than short term unfortunately,” Gailey told reporters. “Let's see how the reports go. He's supposed to see some more people later this week and I hope that's an outside chance. But you can never say never.”
Other than Parrish, rookie Marcus Easley was placed on injured reserve last week for a heart ailment, and although he did play Sunday, Johnson is battling groin issues.
“He's a big part of what we do and what we wanted to do,” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said of Parrish. “It's going to be hard for us, not sure how long he's going to be out. … The next guy's got to step up and get in there and get open and win.”
The loss leaves the Bills with four healthy receivers, not counting Brad Smith, an all-purpose ace who spent time as a receiver with the New York Jets. The latest addition to that group is Ruvell Martin, who was re-signed to the team Sept. 13 after the Bills announced Easley's move to IR. Gailey was tight-lipped about any potential moves the Bills might make to beef up the roster, but he didn't deny that the team was looking into possibilities.
“There are some good guys we know that are available and if we think we have to make a move, if it looks like it's more long term than short term with Roscoe, then we may have to make a move,” Gailey said. “If it's not as long term as we think then we may not. We may just wait and see.”
The timing of the loss isn’t ideal, as the team has put together two great wins and is preparing for a divisional bout with the New England Patriots. Expect to see Martin get some time against the Patriots as well as David Nelson, who has had solid numbers in the first two games.
“That's what you are going to see in this offense,” Fitzpatrick said. “We had some injuries, we had some stuff happen in the game and guys are cramping a little bit. Ruvell's (Martin) in. He's only been here for a couple weeks. If you're open, if you're the guy that's supposed to get the ball, I'm not going to hesitate to get you the ball.”
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