Inside The Bills

Report: Steelers sign OT Scott

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers have signed Bills free agent offensive tackle Jonathan Scott.

Scott will be re-united with former Bills and current Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler. Scott is the third free agent signing of the day for the Steelers. Pittsburgh also signed WR Arnaz Battle and S Will Allen.

Incognito not tendered

The team’s choices in terms of what restricted free agents got tender offers was not anything shocking. Perhaps only the decision not to tender Richie Incognito was a mild surprise.

In light of the fact that Eric Wood still has some time to go on his current rehabilitation from a broken leg, even I thought the club would perhaps tender Incognito, who could represent insurance in the event that Wood’s rehab took a bit longer than expected. But once head coach Chan Gailey indicated at the combine that both Demetrius Bell and Eric Wood were considered “ahead of schedule,” to me it signaled that Incognito was probably going to become a free agent.

And that’s what happens when there’s a new regime in place. All bets are off with people currently on the roster. The new front office wants to shape the roster the way they like it, and that has already begun with the players they have chosen to tender and not to tender.

The other three RFAs not tendered were Jonathan Scott, Gibran Hamdan and Joe Klopfenstein. They’re all unrestricted free agents now.

Rookie OT Ramsey could start

With OT Jonathan Scott laid up with an ankle injury the door could be open for rookie Andre Ramsey to make his first NFL start on Sunday.

Ramsey (6’5″ 322) stepped in for Scott last Sunday when he left in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Interim head coach Perry Fewell felt for a former undrafted free agent he did alright.

“He had to line up against John Abraham and Abraham beat him on a slant move inside. In pass protection he didn’t get to him. The kid wasn’t wide-eyed. He was focused and he did okay. He’ll have a tougher task this week because those Colts defensive ends are pretty doggone good.”

Ramsey would draw the assignment of Dwight Freeney, who already has 13.5 sacks on the season and was named to the Pro Bowl for a fifth time in his career on Tuesday. His fellow defensive end Robert Mathis is also going to the Pro Bowl for the second time.

A former undrafted rookie free agent, Ramsey was signed to the Bills practice squad on Sept. 23, called up to the active roster on Dec. 11 and appeared in his first game against the Patriots in Week 15. But last Sunday was his most extensive action.

If Scott cannot heal up in time to start on Sunday and Ramsey replaces him, the Bills will be starting their seventh different tackle tandem this season and ninth different lineup on the offensive line.

Postgame injury update

Jonathan Scott was the only postgame injury reported.

No word on whether it was a high ankle sprain, but Scott did leave the locker room after the game under his own power.

He did suffer a high ankle sprain earlier this season which forced him to miss three games.

Injury update

Terrell Owens heads a list of four players that are questionable for Sunday.

Owens missed practice again Friday due to illness though he was in team meetings at One Bills Drive.

The other questionable players for Buffalo are LT Jonathan Scott, WR Justin Jenkins and reserve OT Jamon Meredith. FS Jairus Byrd is probable.

Practice update

Terrell Owens is the only absentee here on Friday as some players on Buffalo’s injury report are back practicing.

The team is practicing in the stadium and OT Jonathan Scott looks to be full go as he practices for the first time this week coming off his eye injury suffered last Sunday.

Jamon Meredith, Justin Jenkins and Jairus Byrd have all been limited in practice this week, but all three are again participating here on Friday.

Owens absent

Bills WR Terrell Owens was not at practice Thursday during the media viewing portion of the workout.

Interim head coach Perry Fewell is expected to address Owens’ absence after practice is over.

In attendance, but not practicing were G Kendall Simmons and OT Jonathan Scott. WR Justin Jenkins appeared to be limited.

Practice update

The Bills roster looks relatively healthy, but once again there are some offensive linemen that were not participating in practice Wednesday.

Jonathan Scott and Kendall Simmons are not practicing today. We’ll have a full update following practice from interim head coach Perry Fewell when he addresses the media in his weekly press conference.

Postgame injury update

The Bills came out of Sunday’s game relatively unscathed.

TE Shawn Nelson suffered an ankle injury but did return late in the game.

OT Jonathan Scott got poked in the eye, but should be fine according to interim head coach Perry Fewell.

OT Scott pressing forward

It’s been a rough few weeks for Bills OT Jonathan Scott, but rejoining his teammates has proven to be the best therapy in moving past the passing of his father.

Scott’s father, Ray Scott was a man the Bills tackle revered. Having been a former defensive end/tight end, Ray Scott was a ninth-round draft choice of the New York Jets in 1967. For the younger Scott succeeding in football was like a gift for his father.

His passing after a condition that got progressively worse was understandably difficult for the Bills lineman. Returning to the team on Thursday Scott felt better being around his teammates and focusing on football.

“Due to my situation at home it is always going to be in the back of my head,” said Scott. ”It was definitely a lift off my shoulders being around my teammates and being around just the camaraderie that we have as an offensive line unit. It’s definitely helping me emotionally and I’m real excited to get back out there.

“Practice was therapeutic. I just say to this day that I love those guys for sticking behind me through a tough crisis. It just allows me to play at an even higher level just from a perspective of my father and honoring my father and just kind of do the things that he would want me to do.”

Scott is expected to serve in a backup capacity Sunday at Jacksonville.

He was only away from the team for six days, but in the time he was away his head coach was dismissed. 

“Despite what was going on in my life, it was kind of disheartening to hear about coach Jauron because he’s a good man and he’s a good person,” said Scott. ”I’m saddened for his loss for this team, but you’ve got to keep on going. As my dad would always say, ‘You’ve got to stay in the buggy.’ I’ve got to keep that in my mind and stay in the buggy.”

I asked Scott if he’s dedicating the rest of his season to his dad. Scott is thinking much bigger than that.

“I think I’ll be dedicating the rest of my life to my dad,” said Scott. ”The aspect of football, being a potential husband and father, everything. It’s sad that the simple fact of realizing that was done after he passed away, but I’m happy about it because now I know my purpose in this whole world now.”

Scott unlikely to bump Levitre from LT

With the return of Jonathan Scott to the team Thursday there was thought that perhaps he would bump Andy Levitre back inside to guard provided he came along well through the practice week. But with time running short before Sunday’s game at Jacksonville, it appears that Scott is a long shot to start.

“We’ll just continue to work with it to see how much he can absorb of the game plan,” said interim head coach Perry Fewell. “And if he can absorb some more of the game plan we’ll evaluate it on Saturday and make a decision on Sunday.”

Scott, who replaced an injured Demetrius Bell in Week 4, said he got reps at a few positions in practice Thursday as he focused solely on football for the first time in weeks with the passing of his father.

“I know at this moment right now I’m kind of playing every position even guard because they want me to make sure I’ve got my momentum back and the feel of things and having multiple collisions,” said Scott. “Due to my situation at home it is always going to be in the back of my head. It was definitely a lift off my shoulders being around my teammates and being around just the camaraderie that we have as an offensive line unit. It’s helped me emotionally.”

With Scott being moved around at different positions, it appears as though he’s taking a backup role this week as he’ll need to be ready to step in at guard if someone goes down there because backup Seth McKinney is likely to start at left guard in place of Levitre with Levtire playing left tackle. Kirk Chambers or Jamon Meredith will start at right tackle.

OT Scott’s return could change tackle lineup

With OT Jonathan Scott returning to the team Thursday, it could change the tackle lineup for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.

The last time Demetrius Bell was out of Buffalo’s lineup with an injury, it was Scott that started at left tackle. Bell missed a start in Week 4 at Miami due to a groin injury and Scott started in his place. Bell returned the following week.

Interim head coach Perry Fewell did not know when exactly Scott would return this week, but did anticipate him being here before the end of the week. Still absent on Wednesday, the plan at left tackle appeared to be rookie Andy Levitre.

We’ll see if things have changed now that Scott is back at the tackle position when we speak with coach Fewell following Thursday’s practice.

OT Scott sighting

Bills OT Jonathan Scott has returned to the team.

Scott is back practicing with his teammates here on Thursday, but Andy Levitre is still working as a tackle in practice.

Scott had been with his family after the passing of his father.

Bills Inactives

Here are the Bills inactives.

Roscoe Parrish
Terrence McGee
Keith Ellison
Jonathan Scott
Chris Ellis
Kyle Williams
James Hardy

OT Scott out for game

In the latest round of bad luck for Buffalo’s offensive line, OT Jonathan Scott, who was ready to return after a three game absence, is out for Sunday’s game.

Scott did not make the trip due to undisclosed personal reasons. He’s been declared out for the game.

Rookie Jamon Meredith had filled in for Scott at right tackle the past three games, but is questionable for Sunday’s game.

The only other healthy tackle on the roster besides left tackle Demetrius Bell is Kirk Chambers, who finished the game against Houston after Meredith went down with a knee injury.

6 Bills probable for Sunday

Six Bills players are listed as probable for Sunday.

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.

Young has fit back in

Titans QB Vince Young has fit back into Tennessee’s offense pretty seamlessly since being re-inserted into the lineup two weeks ago. Young himself however, doesn’t quite see it that way.

“It was kind of up and down,” said Young of his first week as the starter. ”I felt like (I had) a good week of practice and preparation. Staying in coach Heimerdinger’s coat pocket and paying attention and asking questions when I need to know and things like that and then just going out there and playing the game I know how to play.”

Over the past two games Young has gone 27-37 (73%) for 297 yards and a TD with a 105.3 passer rating, both wins for the Titans after an 0-6 start. Naturally he’s helped tremendously by the NFL’s #2 run game and the league’s leading rusher Chris Johnson.

Young admits that sitting and watching veteran Kerry Collins last season and early this season did serve a purpose with respect to his own game.

“It really did help out my development and just paying attention,” said Young. ”It’s made me stronger and more confident so… I had an opportunity to watch Kerry Collins play the game with the type of talent he has and managing the game. That definitely helped me out a whole lot.”

Good friend and Bills right tackle Jonathan Scott knows Young isn’t going to overwhelm himself with details in his second go round as the starter. He believes Young still has a lot of faith in his own abilities. 

“He’s the kind of guy that’s taking it day by day and just staying focused,” said Scott who won a National Championship with Young at Texas. ”We’ve had numerous talks right up until last week. I know as a friend and as a person I had blood, sweat and tears with him. I hope he does his best. I hope he does well, but at the same time I have to be greedy and I want the win.”

Practice update

Some are not participating due to injury, some are not participating just because their bodies need to heal up. Here’s the rundown of players not practicing here on Wednesday, the final bye week practice this week.

WR Justin Jenkins
S Donte Whitner (ankle)
CB Terrence McGee (knee surgery)
S Jairus Byrd (groin)
FB Corey McIntyre (knee)
LB Keith Ellison (quad)
C Geoff Hangartner
OT Jamon Meredith (knee)
WR Terrell Owens
WR Josh Reed
WR Lee Evans
TE Shawn Nelson (migraines)
DE Chris Kelsay
DE Aaron Schobel (groin)
DT Kyle Williams (knee)
DT Marcus Stroud

Returning from injury to practice Wednesday was Jonathan Scott, who is coming off a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss each of the last three games.

Bills Inactives

Most of Buffalo’s inactives were the players declared out due to injury for today’s game against Houston.

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

Injury update

The Bills will be without the services of six players on Sunday. Here’s the injury report rundown.

Out for Sunday
QB Trent Edwards (concussion)
FB Corey McIntyre (knee)
TE Shawn Nelson (migraines)
OT Jonathan Scott (ankle)
S Donte Whitner (ankle)
DT Kyle Williams (knee)

Doubtful
SS Bryan Scott (ankle)

Probable
DE Chris Kelsay (back)
CB Terrence McGee (knee)