Bills running back C.J. Spiller reportedly was “extremely limited” at practice on Tuesday. He was so limited that whatever he did didn’t amount to even participating in practice.
According to the official report, Spiller did not practice, due to a lingering ankle injury.
Limited in practice was running back Fred Jackson (pictured), who has a sprained MCL in his knee. Jackson told NFL Network that, come Thursday night, he’ll play in Cleveland.
“Knee’s a little sore,” Jackson told Andrew Siciliano. “But it is what it is. At this point of the year, there’s not a lot of people that aren’t sore. So it’s just something I’ve got to deal with. . . . I’m definitely playing. I’m going to do everything I can to get back out there.”
(He wouldn’t have to do so much if the Bills didn’t have to play only four days after the team’s last game, but everybody has to do it once per year so that makes it OK, right?)
Jackson said he couldn’t speak for Spiller, but Jackson said Spiller that is doing everything he can to play, too.
Also limited for the Bills were receiver Marquise Goodwin (hand), kicker Dustin Hopkins (groin), receiver Stevie Johnson (hamstring), cornerback Leodis McKelvin (hamstring), guard Kraig Urbik (knee), cornerback Aaron Williams (low back), defensive end Mario Williams (ankle), and defensive tackle Kyle Williams (Achilles).
Missing practice along with Spiller were cornerback Stephon Gilmore (wrist) and cornerback Ron Brooks (foot).
Safety Jairus Byrd, the franchise-tagged defender who has yet to play this year, fully participated in practice with a foot injury. Byrd has said he won’t play until he’s 100 percent, a position likely influenced by the season-ending injuries suffered by a pair of other 2013 franchise players — Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton and Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer.