The Buffalo Bills have been without top wide receiver Sammy Watkins for the past three weeks of action after placing him on the Injured Reserve list due to his surgically repaired foot. There was fear that Watkins could need a second surgery on it, and he even flew to North Carolina to meet with a noted foot specialist for the determination.
Nearly two weeks later, multiple reports appeared that said a second surgery wouldn't, in fact, be necessary. Ian Rapoport was the first to have it:
After seeing Dr. Anderson, the recommendation for #Bills WR Sammy Watkins was no surgery, just rest & rehab. Late-season return is possible
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 12, 2016
Hours after that information was put out there, Bills head coach Rex Ryan was asked if that was indeed the case. Rex Ryan, said that he has not heard anything about the status of Watkins in relation to needing another procedure to be done.
If Watkins does not need surgery, the Bills could use their lone return designation on him this season. If they use it on him, the wide receiver is eligible to return to the team after eight weeks of the season has passed -- meaning, Week 12 of the season.
Teams are only allowed to bring back one player from injured reserve per season.
