Strategy And Personnel

The Bills, who had close to 20 players land on injured reserve last year, are encouraged by the recovery of all their injured players.

Getting starters back up to speed from injuries is a critical training camp goal. Those players are RB Fred Jackson, WR Donald Jones, C Eric Wood, CB Terrence McGee, DE Shawn Merriman, DT Kyle Williams and PK Rian Lindell. The team is being extra cautious early in camp with Wood (ACL), McGee (leg) and backup DT Torell Troup (back).

"We'll be smart with all three of them," coach Chan Gailey said.

He said the positive thing is that all of the injured players still on the roster from a year ago are in camp and working to some degree.

"It's great to have everybody here, that's one of the keys for us, to have all hands on deck," he said.

PLAYER NOTES

--RB Fred Jackson is working at full speed. He broke a non-weight bearing bone in his leg last November and was placed on injured reserve but is 100 percent recovered.

--CB Leodis McKelvin left one practice after showing signs of heat stroke. He was OK.

--DE Sean Ferguson, a rookie free agent from Mississippi State, was signed to the training camp roster. The 6-3, 248-pounder started 27 games in college and recorded 101 tackles. He had taken part in the Bills rookie minicamp in May and the coaches like his athleticism as a pass rusher.

--TE Mike Caussin was placed on the physically unable to perform list. He is not fully recovered from the knee injury he suffered against Denver late last season.

--DE Lionel Dotson was released in a numbers move, freeing up a roster spot to sign free agent Sean Ferguson.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK
With the loss of Demetress Bell to Philadelphia, the Bills have a huge hole to fill protecting Ryan Fitzpatrick's blind side. The good news is that they have two excellent prospects in Cordy Glenn, their second-round draft pick from Georgia and Chris Hairston, who logged seven starts as a rookie when Bell was injured. They are sharing time with the first unit early in camp. Coach Chan Gailey was most eager to see them perform in full pads. "We will find out a lot more in the next week," he said. "We are going to keep alternating that until we find out which direction we want to go."

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Wide receiver Stevie Johnson, the controversial veteran known as much for fine-inducing touchdown celebrations as his acrobatic catches, has been Spiderman early in camp, with balls sticking to his hands at every turn. This is good news for Buffalo's front office, which made the decision to retain Johnson with a five-year, $36 million deal. Johnson had offseason surgery to fix a nagging groin problem and said he's about "90 percent" healthy. "It is just a great feeling to get back in the swing of things and to be back comfortable," he said.

ROOKIE REPORT
Wide receiver T.J. Graham has flashed his deep speed during drills, making some nice catches. He's got a very good chance of contributing as a rookie. ... Linebacker Nigel Bradham has looked very solid in both run stopping (pad contact) and pass coverage. The fourth-round pick is looking like one of the steals of the draft. ... Cornerback Ron Brooks made a nice interception along the sidelines of a deep ball to Wide receiver David Clowney thrown by Tyler Thigpen.

MEDICAL WATCH

--DT Kyle Williams, coming off foot surgery, has been able to practice fully and is looking strong.

--C Eric Wood, coming off an ACL injury, is being brought back slowly in training camp. The goal is to have him ready for the season opener.

--WR David Nelson is nursing a bruised knee suffered on the third day of camp practices. He came up lame during a team drill and is day to day.

--RT Erik Pears aggravated his groin muscle on the first day of practice in pads. He left the field as a precautionary move and was expected back soon.

--DT Kellen Heard, who was hampered all offseason with a nagging ankle injury, continues to experience issues. He was scheduled for more testing and has been unable to practice fully.

--DE Shawen Merriman tweaked an ankle early in camp and missed some practice time but is expected to be fine. He's coming off Achilles surgery.

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