ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent
Edwards is ready to play after returning to practice Tuesday, and
starting tackle Langston Walker might not be far behind.
Edwards returned after missing a week with a bruised right thigh
and said he should play in Buffalo's preseason finale against
Detroit on Thursday.
"Yeah, this is definitely going in the right direction,"
Edwards said. "I feel like I'm getting close to 100 percent, which
is what I want to get to. And the sooner, I get there, the
better."
Edwards sustained a deep bruise just above his knee when he
collided with running back Marshawn Lynch in training camp on Aug.
19. Besides missing three practices, the starter was also held out
of a 20-7 win at Indianapolis on Sunday, when the Bills starting
offense played the entire first half.
Edwards said it was important for him to return to practice and
get additional playing time with the first-team offense. The Bills
third-round pick last year, Edwards is entering his first season as
starter after winning the job ahead of J.P. Losman midway through
last season.
"That's very critical. You've got to be out there making your
mistakes and learning from those," Edwards said, noting he's still
experiencing some pain in his leg.
As for Walker, he missed practice and is not expected to play
against Detroit. But the injury to his left forearm is not as
severe as initially feared when he was hurt at Indianapolis.
Coach Dick Jauron said tests showed the injury was simply a
bruise. He listed Walker as doubtful to play Thursday, but merely
for precautionary reasons.
"It feels fine," Walker said. "I probably could've gone back
in the game if really pressed into it."
Walker was hurt when he appeared to collide with fullback Darian
Barnes while blocking Colts defensive end Ben Ishola in the second
quarter. Walker had difficulty moving his arm as he left the field,
and was spotted wearing a soft cast immediately after the game. On
Tuesday, Walker had much greater mobility in the arm, and even
helped backup Demetrius Bell put on his shoulder pads.
That's good news, because the Bills lack depth at tackle.
Walker, normally the starting right tackle, is starting on the
left side in place of Jason Peters, who has refused to report to
the team over a contract dispute. Reserve tackle Matt Murphy is
also out indefinitely with a partially torn left rotator cuff.
That leaves Bell, the rookie seventh-round draft pick, as the
interim starter on the left side.
Rookie tight end Derek Fine, the second of Buffalo's two
fourth-round picks, also missed practice Tuesday because of what
Jauron referred to as "a fairly serious thumb injury." Jauron
didn't describe the nature of the injury, which happened against
the Colts, but he said Fine will be out indefinitely.
That leaves the Bills down to three healthy tight ends,
including starter Robert Royal, after Derek Schouman has still not
been cleared for practice after hurting his knee two weeks ago.
The Bills also announced Tuesday they released four players,
including cornerback Kennard Cox, the third of Buffalo's three
seventh-round draft picks this year. Also cut were defensive end
Shaun Nua, receiver C.J. Hawthorne and punter D.J. Fitzpatrick.
Fourth-string quarterback Matt Baker was also released after
being placed on the waived-injured list.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)