Bills' McGahee Out With Broken Ribs

[SoFlaJets]

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) - Running back Willis McGahee is out

indefinitely with three broken ribs, leaving the Bills without

their best offensive threat against the Indianapolis Colts this

weekend.

Coach Dick Jauron on Wednesday ruled McGahee out, adding the

player's injury is more severe than initially thought. Jauron said

follow-up tests showed McGahee damaged three ribs in Buffalo's

24-10 win over Green Bay last weekend.

McGahee was originally diagnosed with one broken rib and later

tests showed breaks in two others.

Jauron did not say how much time McGahee might miss, and said

his return will depend on the healing process and the player's

tolerance to play with pain.

Tampa Bay tight end Dave Moore missed four weeks after breaking

a rib earlier this season.

When McGahee does return, he'll likely have to wear a protective

jacket.

Jauron also announced Josh Reed is out indefinitely. The backup

receiver spent two days in a Buffalo-area hospital this week after

bruising his kidney against Green Bay.

``It depends on how you define a while, but definitely not this

week, and it could easily go longer,'' Jauron said of Reed. ``We'll

be conservative.''

Without McGahee, the Bills will turn to Anthony Thomas, the 2001

NFL rookie of the year who joined Buffalo as a free agent last

spring. Thomas had 20 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown filling

in for McGahee on Sunday.

A second-round pick out of Michigan, Thomas spent four seasons

with Chicago before splitting last year between Dallas and New

Orleans, combining for a career-low 92 yards rushing and no scores.

Thomas already has two touchdowns with the Bills this season,

and ranks second on the team with 134 yards rushing.

``I never had any doubts that I could do it,'' Thomas said of

his resurgence this season. ``I believed in myself and I knew when

the opportunity would come, I could go out there and do it.''

The Bills (3-5) are counting on their running attack to produce

against Indianapolis (8-0) and keep the Colts' potent offense on

the sideline.

Jauron is familiar with Thomas and has confidence in him. Jauron

was Bears coach during Thomas' first two seasons with Chicago.

``Wherever he's been, at every level, he's succeeded,'' Jauron

said. ``We're in a situation that we got him for. Running backs

take a beating in our league. Now, hopefully, he'll rise up and

play outstanding football like he did last Sunday.''

McGahee has been durable, missing only one start since earning

the No. 1 job seven games into the 2004 season. Buffalo's

first-round pick in the 2003 draft, McGahee missed his rookie

season after blowing out his right knee in his final college game

with Miami.

McGahee has struggled this season, with just one 100-yard game -

a career-high 150 yards in a 28-20 loss to the New York Jets in

Week 3. He was limited to 175 in his next three games, and managed

just 15 yards before being hurt against Green Bay.

He was hurt on Buffalo's seventh play from scrimmage, stuffed

for a 3-yard loss by defensive tackle Colin Cole. Cole and fellow

lineman Ryan Pickett then both fell heavily on McGahee.

Reed was hurt early in the second quarter after being hit

following a 6-yard reception. He finished the half before being

diagnosed with a bruised kidney and going to the hospital.

The fifth-year veteran ranks third on the team in catches with

23 and second with 229 yards. He's scored one touchdown this

season.

While Reed is out, the Bills are prepared to welcome back

reserve receiver Sam Aiken, who missed last week's game with a

hamstring injury.

[124]

Oh JC?

Sorry bro but if you were me you'd find this funny.

4th year, going on missing game 17.

[The Troll]

Oh JC?

Sorry bro but if you were me you'd find this funny.

4th year, going on missing game 17.

Dude, were you not watching when McGahee's knee got sodomized?

He is one tough MFer. Injury prone is not a term I'd use to describe him.

[JetCane]

18 year olds dont know what tough is. I'd like to see 124 bounce back from the knee injury McGahee sustained. Ha, FAT chance.

You're well on your way to a career of disreputable journalism if your thread the other day about him being "oft injured" is any indication.

[jetophile]

18 year olds dont know what tough is. I'd like to see 124 bounce back from the knee injury McGahee sustained. Ha, FAT chance.

Yes, well, not to take anything away from McGahee's "toughness", but he was awfully ungracious with his "Play Me or Trade Me" comment. Made me put him on my 'A List', and you can guess what 'A' stands for. He should have been thankful that the Bills took a chance on him in the first place when his career at the time was tenuous at best. I guess I should learn not to expect anyything from the majority of players these days. You know, like class.