Inside The Bills

News good for Dickerson

Dorin Dickerson was carted off the field last Sunday, but things are looking up for him playing this week in the season finale against the Jets.

“I think he’ll be able to go (Sunday),” said head coach Chan Gailey. “He practiced yesterday and today so I think he’ll just get stronger as long as we don’t have a setback tomorrow.”

Dickerson’s availability is critical for Sunday’s game with Scott Chandler on injured reserve and Lee Smith the only other healthy tight end on the roster.

Wednesday night on the John Murphy Show

The Buffalo Bills lead the league in rushing after two weeks.  And it’s not just because of C.J. Spiller.  One of the key blockers for the Bills offense has been Tight End Lee Smith.  He’ll join us tonight at 7:20pm on The John Murphy Show to talk about his role in the Buffalo offense, and the season so far.

The Bills play the Browns in Cleveland Sunday, and the Browns are coming off a tough loss in Cincinnati.  At 8pm, former Bills great Steve Tasker will be live on the line with us.  He was the color analyst for the Browns-Bengals game last Sunday on CBS, and of course, he knows a lot about the Bills.

We’re going to leave lots of time for the fans tonight, with open phone lines at 7:45, 820, and 845pm.

The John Murphy Show airs weeknights from 7pm-9pm on the flagship station of the Bills, WGR Sports Radio 550.

Chandler unlikely to play

Bills TE Scott Chandler might miss his first game of the season this week.

Chandler did not practice for a second straight day along with CB Aaron Williams.

“Scott didn’t practice,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “Aaron probably has a better chance than Scott right now.”

If Chandler can’t go the offensive staff is expected to make use of both Lee Smith and Mike Caussin to spell Chandler.

“What you would do is you would use Lee (Smith) and Mike Caussin to do some of the things that you would do with Scott,” said Gailey. ”Lee is more of a blocker and Mike is more of a pass catcher so you would try to keep that combination doing what they do best. I know that can’t always take place. Mike has got to block some and Lee has got to go out some we know that, but you try to be smart about how you do that.”

No practice for Chandler

Bills head coach Chan Gailey confirmed that TE Scott Chandler will not practice with the team here today (Wednesday).

“He will not practice today,” said Gailey. ”He’s going to try to continue to get treatment and maybe be on the field for a little bit (Thursday). It was a lot more encouraging than it was two days ago.”

Chandler, who suffered an ankle injury last Sunday, is undoubtedly eager to play this week against the team that drafted him in the Chargers back in 2007. If he can’t go rookies Lee Smith and Mike Caussin would team up to spell Chandler in the lineup.

“What you would do is you would use Lee (Smith) and Mike Caussin to do some of the things that you would do with Scott,” said Gailey. ”Lee is more of a blocker and Mike is more of a pass catcher so you would try to keep that combination doing what they do best. I know that can’t always take place. Mike has got to block some and Lee has got to go out some we know that, but you try to be smart about how you do that.”

TE Smith to have bigger role

With veteran TE David Martin released to make room for CB Terrence Wheatley on the active roster, rookie TE Lee Smith will step into a bigger role on game days.

Martin had been serving as the team’s primary blocking tight end, but now that he’s no longer on the roster that duty will fall to Smith. Smith (6’5″ 270) was picked up off waivers from New England at the start of the regular season.

Now that he’s been around a month, he’s likely comfortable enough to execute a game plan on a Sunday. With Scott Chandler the only other tight end on the roster, it’s likely that Smith will be active on Sunday. Smith has been inactive each of the first three games.

TE Smith is blocking insurance

Bills newly signed TE Lee Smith, who was picked up off waivers from New England over the weekend, was acquired with a primary purpose in mind… blocking.

“He’s a big man and a very good blocker,” said head coach Chan Gailey. ”That was his M.O. coming out of college and in preseason he did that very well during the preseason games. We’re excited about having him. With the injury to David Martin which kept him out, it just gave us a little insurance with a blocking tight end.”

“I’m a 270-pound tight end and I think I can be an in line guy and I can help in the pass game,” said Smith. ”But I think I can get better in all aspects. I need to become a full player and get better every day.”

Player jersey number changes

There are two offensive players that have new jersey assignments.

Newly signed tight end Lee Smith will wear No. 85 and Ruvell Martin switched to No. 82.