The other consideration is to make use of FB Corey McIntyre.

“We might do that and we might just let Corey kind of be the third back. We might go that direction too,” said Gailey. “There’s a couple of ways to think about it and we’ll have to decide which is the best way to go.”

McIntyre does not have a carry on the season, but he does have one reception for nine yards.

“Better than we thought,” said Gailey of McIntyre’s condition coming out of the game. ”It could have been a lot worse. There’s a good chance for this week that he’ll get to practice.”

McIntyre missed practice time last week with a knee flare up, but his ankle is the concern right now.

Corey McIntyre, Brad Smith and Spencer Johnson all practiced Thursday and Friday and are expected to play on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Kyle Williams is listed as probable with a host of other players.

“Corey’s knee flared up,” said Gailey. “He’s been working with it off and on, but he’ll be fine it looks like for the game. We might have to rest him again tomorrow.”

It happened during individual position drills. After being tended to by the athletic training staff he was taken to the training room. We’ll have an update on the nature of his injury post practice.

McIntyre has caught several more passes in training camp practices through the first week of workouts. Head coach Chan Gailey said that’s not by accident.

“We’ve asked him to catch more passes in this camp than we’ve asked him to catch in the last two camps combined,” said Gailey. ”He’s done a good job going outside and doing some different things so yes it’s going to evolve a little bit more, but he’s done a good job of accepting the challenge of doing some different things that he hasn’t had to do in years past.”

McIntyre’s biggest play of camp was a 65-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline in last Saturday’s session.

McIntyre kicked off the 97 Rock “Operation; Rock Out Hunger” campaign by donating $1,500 dollars to help the Food Bank of Western New York.  McIntyre is donating $1.00 for every item donated up until $3,800.

He’ll be joined by teammates including running back Fred Jackson, running back C. J. Spiller, safety/linebacker Bryan Scott, wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt and others as they help DJ Jickster from 97 Rock collect much needed food donations for the Food Bank from 5-6 pm.

97 Rock’s DJ Jickster moved into a Food Bank of WNY trailer on November 16^th and is calling it home for seven days as he promotes the “Rock Out Hunger” food drive to fill the trailer. Go to 97 Rock’s website for more info.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is 3rd among AFC quarterbacks and needs more votes.

George Wilson is 2nd among AFC strong safeties, but needs more support to catch Troy Polamalu.

Nick Barnett is 3rd among AFC inside linebackers, but needs a lot of help to catch Indy’s Pat Angerer on a Colts defense that has not been good at all.

Corey McIntyre is 5th among AFC special teamers and needs some votes as well.

So do your stuff Bills fans and get voting right here.

Corey McIntyre is active and expected to start, but how long he can go with a very tender ankle remains to be seen.

My guess is Caulcrick is likely to help spell McIntyre on special teams at times to lessen the pounding on McIntyre’s ankle, which will allow McIntyre to focus and be fresher for his offensive duties.

“Corey was limited in what he could do out there,” said head coach Chan Gailey after practice Thursday. ”He wasn’t full speed. Hopefully he can be back by Sunday.”

If McIntyre’s ankle injury, which he sustained in the Detroit game last Sunday keeps him out of this weekend’s game, Buffalo may have to make a move with respect to their roster. McIntyre is the only true fullback on the 53-man roster. They have Jehuu Caulcrick on the practice squad, but he’s only been with the team for a little more than a week.

McIntyre is also a valuable special teams contributor as he’s second on the team in special teams tackles.

On the plus side, Cordaro Howard (shoulder) practiced for the first time in over a week as he tries to come back from a shoulder injury suffered in Week 9. He was limited on Thursday.

The game tape and stat crunching site lists Williams as one of their three candidates to represent the AFC at DT. Here’s their write up.

Defensive Tackles

Jason Jones (Ten)*, Haloti Ngata (Bal)* & Kyle Williams (Buf)

Jones has always had the ability to get to the quarterback but now he’s playing the run as well as anyone. Ngata has suffered from overhype because he has the ability to do things others can’t. Now he’s really performing (although he has spent no an inconsiderable amount of time at DE). How Williams can play as well as he does with the wreckage around him in Buffalo is a question for the ages.

While it’s disappointing that the site has to take a pot shot at the rest of the defense to prop up Kyle, the listing is still well deserved. So be sure to vote for Kyle. The only other Bills player to get consideration was FB Corey McIntyre as an honorable mention.

The six-year veteran was rewarded after a solid preseason in which McIntyre not only displayed lead blocking ability, but some receiving talent in the short passing game. McIntyre has also been a dependable special teams contributor in his time with Buffalo.

McIntyre, 31, is entering his third season with the Bills after originally signing with the club a month into the 2008 campaign. He’s appeared in 26 career games for Buffalo with six starts to his credit.

With only Jonathan Stupar and Michael Matthews practicing for now, the coaching staff had fullbacks Rodney Ferguson and Corey McIntyre working on some blocking drills with the two tight ends.

Should the Bills not add another tight end to the roster prior to the team’s next preseason game, it bears watching as to whether the staff makes more use of their fullbacks for tight end blocking type roles here in the short term.

The fullback missed just one practice with a minor ankle injury.

He appeared to get rolled up on a run play off right tackle. McIntyre hopped on one foot to the sideline where he was tended to by trainers.

He walked to the locker room himslef, but very gingerly put weight on his right foot all the way.

Scott did not participate in any team drills.

In addition to Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Schobel being absent, Lee Evans and Corey McIntyre were also not in attendance at Thursday’s voluntary workout.

Those half dozen players are…

FS Jairus Byrd
QB Trent Edwards
FB Corey McIntyre
TE Shawn Nelson
SS/LB Bryan Scott
OT Jonathan Scott

All six practiced fully on Friday. Byrd and McIntyre were both limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Edwards, Nelson, and the two Scotts practiced fully all week.

Byrd, Edwards, Bryan Scott and Jonathan Scott are all expected to start Sunday, though Bryan Scott is expected to do so at linebacker in Keith Ellison’s position. Nelson may also start if the Bills come out in a two tight end set on offense.

Did not practice
CB Terrence McGee (knee)
LB Keith Ellison (quad)
WR Terrell Owens (hip)
DE Aaron Schobel (groin)
DT Kyle Williams (knee)

Limited in practice
FS Jairus Byrd (groin)
FB Corey McIntyre (knee)
OT Jamon Meredith (knee)
S Donte Whitner (ankle)

Both Schobel and Williams worked with trainers on the side. Head coach Dick Jauron however, was not overly encouraged by that development.

“Well they’re further ahead than (Wednesday),” said Jauron. ”But not far enough where they could practice.”

Did not practice
LB Keith Ellison (quad)
CB Terrence McGee (knee)
WR Terrell Owens (hip)
DE Aaron Schobel (groin)
DT Kyle Williams (knee)

Limited in practice
FS Jairus Byrd (groin)
FB Corey McIntyre (knee)
OT Jamon Meredith (knee)
S Donte Whitner (ankle)

Full participation (players coming off injury)
QB Trent Edwards (head)
TE Shawn Nelson (migraines)
S Bryan Scott (ankle)
OT Jonathan Scott (ankle)

The inactives are
QB Trent Edwards
S Donte Whitner
FB Corey McIntyre
S Bryan Scott
OT Jonathan Scott
TE Shawn Nelson
DT Kyle Williams