C.J. Spiller’s disappointing rookie year suffered a setback in Buffalo’s first win of the season when Spiller hurt his hamstring.
The injury is expected to keep Spiller out of this week’s game against the Bengals. Newly acquired linebacker Shawne Merriman is also expected to be out with his Achilles injury, and defensive end Spencer Johnson will be out with a hamstring injury.
Merriman is running out of time to rehab his free agent value, while Spiller is still trying to show the explosiveness that made him a top-ten pick in the draft. Spiller has been a very good return man, but his troubles in pass protection have kept him off the field.
Spiller has only 245 yards from scrimmage in nine games this year. Jahvid Best easily leads an underwhelming crop of rookie running backs thus far with 740 yards from scrimmage.