Bills lose star LB Spikes for season with Achilles' injury

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- When Buffalo's Takeo Spikes sat on the field in pain and slammed his helmet to the ground, everyone knew something was wrong. When the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker had tears in his eyes while carted to the training room, everyone knew it was serious.

Spikes, who has never missed a game due to injury in his seven-plus NFL seasons, is out for the year with a torn right Achilles' tendon.

The injury happened in Buffalo's 24-16 loss to Atlanta on Sunday and leaves the Bills without their top defensive player and the unit's inspirational and physical leader.

"It's a big blow for our defense," linebacker London Fletcher said Monday. "However, we will still play football on Sunday. Injuries happen all the time. We've got some other guys that have to take up the slack."

The Bills (1-2) prepare to play the New Orleans Saints at San Antonio on Sunday.

Takeo Spikes' season ends with a cart ride to the locker room. (AP)

"It's devastating," safety Troy Vincent added. "But we can't lose the swagger. ... We're just going to have to pick up the pieces and keep rolling. No player wants that to happen to them, but that's part of the game."

Spikes' agent, Todd France, said his client was flying Monday to Birmingham, Ala., where Dr. James Andrews was to perform surgery within the next two days. Andrews is a noted orthopedist who this year operated on New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Jim Thome.

France said Spikes complained of a sore right leg the last two weeks, adding it was a reason he was held out of practice Friday.

France and coach Mike Mularkey have been assured by doctors that Spikes should recover fully.

"It's hard to replace a player of his caliber, but we're looking at this as an opportunity for another good player to step up and fill his shoes," Mularkey said. "I think it might be a motivation for us. If anything, they might even want to play even harder for him."

Third-year veteran Angelo Crowell will make his first career start replacing Spikes.

Spikes was hurt in the second quarter while pressuring quarterback Michael Vick. It's unclear what happened on the play, but Spikes was left lying face down on the field a few feet in front of Vick, who had overthrown receiver Roddy White.

After being carted to the training room, Spikes addressed the team at halftime, giving what teammates described as an emotional speech.