Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller (28) runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the first quarter of a game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The Buffalo Bills wisely decided to hold star running back C.J. Spiller out of yesterday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, as Spiller’s ankle injury has clearly hobbled him in recent weeks. In Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins, Spiller just couldn’t get anything going as a result of the injury, managing just seven yards on nine touches. He tried to downplay the severity of his ankle injury following the game, but Bills head coach Doug Marrone basically admitted that Spiller was only feeling worse. The Bills plan all along was to shut down Spiller for the week with his long-term health in mind, and it was the right decision; Spiller never had a realistic shot at playing.
A week of rest should do Spiller some good going forward, as he looks to make good on the offseason hype. Coming into the season, Spiller was expected to get the keys to the Bills offense and be the No. 1 back above Fred Jackson, but that certainly won’t happen with the way Jackson is playing.
Interestingly enough, though, there is a possibility that C.J. Spiller will get two weeks of rest and might miss this week’s game against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. WGR 550’s Joe Buscaglia tweets that Doug Marrone said he will “wait” on giving the statuses of Spiller and starting linebacker Manny Lawson. Marrone did divulge that Spiller has a high ankle sprain, which definitely isn’t something that he should be running on. Consider his status for this week’s game up in the air, but there is optimism that the Bills allow him to play this week against a big opponent.
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