Bills guard remains under observation

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills rookie guard Eric Wood continues to recuperate in a Jacksonville hospital three days after breaking two bones in his left leg.

A person familiar with the injury told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Wood isn't expected to return to Buffalo until Thursday after doctors deemed it necessary to keep the player under observation as a precaution.

Wood had surgery to repair the compound fracture hours after he was hurt in an 18-15 loss to the Jaguars last Sunday.

He was hurt while blocking on a pass play in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. Jaguars defensive tackle Montavious Stanley broke in on the left side and made a diving attempt to tackle quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick near the line of scrimmage. Stanley got only a piece of the quarterback, then landed directly on Wood's lower leg, bending it sideways.

The injury was so gruesome CBS elected against showing more than one replay.

Placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Wood is the second of Buffalo's two first-round draft picks, and had started all 10 games this season.

Eight-year NFL veteran Kendall Simmons, who was signed Tuesday, might start in Wood's place Sunday, when Buffalo (3-7) hosts Miami (5-5). It will be the seventh different offensive line combination this season.

The Bills made several other moves to address their injury-riddled offensive line. The team promoted Christian Gaddis from its practice squad and placed Seth McKinney on injured reserve after the backup offensive lineman hurt his knee against Jacksonville.

Gaddis was re-signed by Buffalo last week after the team made him one of its final cuts before the start of the season.

The Bills also signed offensive lineman Jason Watkins and defensive tackle Lonnie Harvey to their practice squad. Watkins was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Florida who was released by Houston before the start of the season. Harvey, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Morgan State, was waived by the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 1.

Meanwhile, starting cornerback Terrence McGee (knee), starting defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (knee), and starting left tackle Demetrius Bell (knee) didn't practice Wednesday. Backup defensive tackle John McCargo also missed practice because of a calf injury. Rookie safety Jairus Byrd, who leads the league with eight interceptions, was limited because of a groin injury.

Running back Marshawn Lynch practiced fully after missing the second half of Sunday's loss at Jacksonville because of a shoulder injury.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

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