Bills O-Line set for Colts game

Bills Training Camp - The Bills offense did not look good in the preseason opener in Washington. But the Bills offense was missing three of four starters up front.

That may explain why Buffalo struggled so badly Friday night against the Redskins. The situation may change in preseason game number two, Thursday night in Toronto against the Colts.

As the Bills wrapped up their Tuesday afternoon practice, it was looking more likely that RG Eric Wood, LT Demetrius Bell, and RT Cornell Green would return to action in the Colts game. Wood is still recovering from a broken leg suffered last November, Bell is recovering from offseason knee surgery, and Green suffered a minor sprain last week in training camp.

But they went through the final practice before the Colts game getting reps with the first team offense, leading to speculation that all three will be ready to play Thursday.

"I'm looking forward to getting out there this week,” Wood said after Tuesday’s practice, “and playing against a good team. We'll get some good competition this week amongst the offensive line, and I think we'll have all five of us starters in there for the game, so we need to look sharp, and we need to put a premium on those first few snaps."

Bell has been taking it easy on his surgically repaired knee, but he sounds like he’s ready to test it in this second preseason game. “It's real exciting to get back into game speed,” Bell said, “get my legs back under me, and get into the flow of things."

The Bills are eager to get their starting five up front in place and in synch. It’s a priority, according to Head Coach Chan Gailey.

"The continuity in an offensive line is vital,” Gailey says. “The communication that you have to have with that group is extremely important. The more we can let those guys play next to each other, and get a feel for each other, the better off we'll be as a football team."

Meantime, rookie wide receiver David Nelson went down in practice Tuesday with what looks like an ankle injury. Chan Gailey says it's likely he'll miss the rest of the preseason. Nelson had some good moments in the preseason opener last Friday.

Second year safety Jairus Byrd was not at the Tuesday afternoon workout. Gailey would only say he had a “complication.” Gailey says it’s not major.

The Bills hold a closed walk-through practice at St. John Fisher College Wednesday morning before boarding buses for Toronto. They play the Colts in the Rogers Centre Thursday night at 7:30.