As the Bills limp on, assured of missing the NFL playoffs for a 10th consecutive season, it's symbolic that a new wave of injured players is pushing this M*A*S*H unit to the finish line.

The Bills hit a dubious milestone this week with the placement of cornerback Terrence McGee (rotator cuff) and free safety Jairus Byrd (groin) on injured reserve. That lifted the number of players on IR to a team-record 18, breaking the mark of 17 established in 2007.

Compounding matters was a chaotic development at quarterback.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and backup Trent Edwards suffered serious ankle injuries in last Sunday's loss to New England, and neither practiced Wednesday as second-year pro Brian Brohm took all the repetitions with the first team.

To guard against the possibility that both Fitzpatrick and Edwards will miss Sunday's game at Atlanta, the Bills brought back Gibran Hamdan as insurance. Hamdan was cut on Nov. 19 when Brohm was signed off Green Bay's practice squad.

Rounding out two days of roster roulette was the signing of free-agent linebacker Josh Stamer, who played five seasons in Buffalo through the 2007 season. The Bills needed to shore up their depleted linebacker corps after Bryan Scott, a converted strong safety, suffered a concussion against the Patriots.

Injuries helped doom coach Dick Jauron, who was fired with a 3-6 record, and they are dooming interim coach Perry Fewell's chances of winning games and landing the job on a permanent basis.

Fewell refused to look for excuses, though, and said motivating his players for Sunday's game isn't a concern of his.

"Hey, I look around the league and most of us are in that (injury) situation," he said. "We're built to play football ... it's what we do. We're competitors. So I don't have to get them motivated because it's what we love -- go and play ball. We don't have a full complement, but we're going to go play."

Who will play at quarterback may not be known until game time.

While reports are running rampant that Brohm, the former Louisville standout and second-round pick of the Packers, will make his NFL debut, Fewell wouldn't rule out Fitzpatrick. Edwards is out with a high-ankle sprain.

"We'll see; it's day to day," Fewell said. "Brian took most of the snaps today but I'm not ruling out Fitzpatrick. He felt better today than yesterday so we'll see."

Fewell did say the decision is only between Brohm or Fitzpatrick, not Brohm or Hamdan.

"Fitzpatrick will be evaluated up until game time," Fewell said. "Ryan is our quarterback. I'm not ruling him out. He took mental reps today. If he can take the physical reps on Friday, that's even better."

The team practiced as if Brohm would be the guy.

Veteran wide receiver Terrell Owens, who needs four catches to reach 1,000 for his career, was working hard with Brohm, helping him get up to speed.

"At this point, we're just trying to have him know as much of the offense as he can, make him as comfortable as he can be back there," Owens said. "It's going to be different for him, so I'm sure he's going to want to go out and play. I'm pretty sure he'll have to calm himself down and not to try to do too much. That's part of what I'm here for as a veteran guy is to kind of just speak to him, tell him to relax, just allow us to make the plays for him and everything will take care of itself."

Buffalo has been one of the league's more injury-prone teams in the five seasons former strength and conditioning coach Rusty Jones has been gone. Jones, among the best in the business, worked for the Bills 20 years, including their historic run to four consecutive Super Bowls, but was let go by former coach Mike Mularkey after the 2004 season.

Buffalo's athletic trainer, Bud Carpenter, has been in the same position for 25 years.

Fewell wouldn't critique the work of John Allaire, the strength and conditioning coach he inherited.

"It's a contact sport," Fewell said. "Many of the injuries we've had are contact related. I haven't seen us lack in the conditioning area. I just think we've come out on the wrong end of those collisions."

In the case of the defense, which has played 959 plays, or an average of 68.5 per game, more snaps has led to more wear and more exposure to injury.

Whatever the matter, the Bills have no choice but to play with the men standing and hope to finish with two wins.

"It would be great," wide receiver Lee Evans said. "I think what we have is a tremendous group of guys who come in everyday, work hard, and play to win. Regardless of what we can or can't do this season, every game is an opportunity to win and guys have really put it on their shoulders to come in and work and win and we're having a good time as well, enjoying each other's company, and just trying to win a football game."

SERIES HISTORY
10th regular-season meeting. Falcons lead series 5-4. The teams last met in Week 3 of the 2006 season, a 24-16 Atlanta victory. QB Michael Vick passed for 167 yards and two scores and added 64 yards rushing.

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