Inside The Bills

Migraines for Nelson confirmed

Shawn Nelson mentioned on twitter Wednesday that his migraine headaches had returned. Head coach Chan Gailey confirmed on Thursday that they are the reason why Nelson has been unable to practice.

Nelson has been listed on the team’s injury report since last Friday with what was described as an illness, but when asked if it is in fact migraine headaches, Gailey said the following.

“Yes, it came up again.”

Gailey said again because last season Nelson had battled migraines for a period of time during the season and then the athletic training staff was able to remedy the situation and he played the rest of the season with no relapses. But as football fans have seen with Minnesota’s Percy Harvin, there’s no rhyme or pattern to migraines cropping up at any time.

Nelson’s migraine problems are likely part of the reason why the Bills added TE Mike Caussin to the roster after placing Dwan Edwards on I-R.

Migraines back for Nelson

Bills TE Shawn Nelson was added to Buffalo’s injury report late last week and his ailment was listed as illness. That illness unfortunately are migraines.

Nelson confirmed as much on his twitter account telling teammate C.J. Spiller he’s trying to recover in this post.

ShawnNelson89 @CJSpiller I’m tryna get back myself bra from these migraines.

TE Nelson questionable

Bills TE Shawn Nelson was added to the injury report Friday and is listed as questionable.

Nelson missed Friday’s practice due to illness according to head coach Chan Gailey. If he’s unable to play on Sunday the Bills will be down to just a pair of healthy tight ends in David Martin and Jonathan Stupar.

Decision on Nelson soon

Bills head coach Chan Gailey was not ready to make a call as to whether Shawn Nelson will be dressed for Sunday’s game at Baltimore immediately after practice Friday, but that decision is coming soon.

“We’ll make a decision this afternoon about Shawn Nelson and where he sits,” said Gailey.

Nelson was added to the team’s 53-man roster two weeks ago, when he was taken off a roster exemption list. However, he had tweaked his groin late in the practice week leading up to the Jacksonville game and was inactive that Sunday.

After a full week of practice during the bye week followed by another week of practice this week, Nelson is full go. Now we’ll wait on the decision. Whether that it made public prior to Sunday remains to be seen.

The Nelson plan

Bills head coach Chan Gailey outlined the plan for TE Shawn Nelson this week, who has missed the team’s first four games due to NFL suspension, and the fifth game because his surgically repaired groin wasn’t quite ready.

When asked if Nelson would be ready to play on Sunday, Gailey indicated it’s a decision they’re not ready to make now (Wednesday).

“We’re going to look at him the rest of this week and make that determination Friday or Saturday on exactly where he is as far as if he’s able to play, and if he can play how much he can play,” Gailey said. ”Football conditioning is different from running around in shorts conditioning. He needs to get out there in pads this week and see how he handles himself.”

TE Nelson possible for Sunday

Bills TE Shawn Nelson was back in the fold at practice Monday after missing last week’s work as he was still recovering from groin surgery. But according to head coach Chan Gailey things are looking up for the second-year pass catcher.

“He looked okay,” said Gailey. “He looked good as a matter of fact.”

When asked if Nelson has a chance to be in the lineup on Sunday, Gailey said that’s yet to be decided.

“I hope,” he said. ”But again he’s got to practice well, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday before we make that determination, but that would be great.”

Why Nelson isn’t practicing

Bills TE Shawn Nelson isn’t practicing because he had a slight setback coming off his groin surgery last week.

It happened in last Friday’s practice, his first week back from suspension and following groin surgery a little over a month ago.

“I re-injured myself Friday,” said Nelson. ”So, we came to an agreement that I would hold myself out (against Jacksonville) and be ready for Baltimore. I just kind of tweaked it a little bit. They weren’t really expecting me to come back 100-percent, but I just wanted to give it a go. I was excited about getting back and just wanted to get back on the field and just over-extended it a little bit.”

With plans to play against Baltimore, it’s expected that Nelson will re-join his teammates in the practice setting early next week at the latest.

TE Nelson update

Bills TE Shawn Nelson believes he’ll be game ready coming off the bye week.

“I’m sure I’ll be ready,” he said. “I’ll have this bye week to get my timing down and get some good work in before we prepare for Baltimore.”

Nelson is still working his way back to full strength from groin surgery a little over a month ago.

Ellis waived

OLB Chris Ellis was waived on Monday to make room for TE Shawn Nelson on the 53-man roster. The move was not all that surprising as Ellis’ playing time decreased sharply on the defensive side of the ball the last few weeks.

Ellis, who started in week 1 for an injured Reggie Torbor recorded five tackles and a sack against the Dolphins. But he did not record any defensive statistics in the last four games as his playing time was limited.

The DE turned OLB worked hard to make the transition with the Bills moving to a 3-4 defensive front, but apparently the coaching staff found him expendable.

Nelson on injury report

Bills TE Shawn Nelson was added to the injury report late Friday.

Nelson was limited in practice Friday due to his surgically repaired groin. Earlier in the week Nelson had said that he still feels it at times, so he’s likely not completely recovered from the injury.

Head coach Chan Gailey has until tomorrow to make a decision on whether to add him to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s game or leave him as a roster exemption until Monday. Knowing he’s not 100 percent and has just three days of practice under his belt, it’s likely that he sits this week out.

TE Nelson update

Bills TE Shawn Nelson, who came of his league-imposed four game suspension this week still does not appear to be 100 percent.

Head coach Chan Gailey addressed Nelson’s availability for Sunday’s game after his four week layoff from practice.

“Shawn Nelson was limited out there,” said Gailey.

Gailey has until Saturday afternoon to determine whether they feel Nelson is ready to play on Sundays and add him to the active roster. The Bills obtained a roster exemption for Nelson this week that runs through Monday, meaning if they choose not to activate him, they will not need to add him to the active roster until Monday, which will require a corresponding roster move to make room for Nelson.

Knowing that Nelson is still limited in practice and just four weeks removed from groin surgery, it’s unlikely that he’ll be added to the roster Saturday for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. 

“He’s as good as you could expect because he’s been able to be here and in the meetings,” said Gailey. “He wasn’t on the practice field until this week or doing any football work, but mentally he’s as up to speed as you could expect.”

Roster spot open

With the trade of Marshawn Lynch there is now a roster spot open on Buffalo’s 53-man roster.

While there will likely be some thought given to adding another running back so that there are three on the active roster, like RB Andre Anderson, the more immediate move could be the activation of Shawn Nelson from the roster exempt list provided he shows he’s fit and ready to play this weekend, which is still an ‘if.’

Nelson can be on the roster exempt list through Monday, but if he’s fit to play he’ll go on the 53-man roster before Sunday’s game.

TE Nelson will practice

Bills head coach Chan Gailey addressed Shawn Nelson’s status regarding practice as he comes off suspension and his health coming off groin surgery. Gailey said how Nelson practices will determine his availability for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville.

“He will be able to practice with us this week and we’ll make a determination later in week whether he’s ready to go or whether we ask for the (roster) exemption this week and he would be ready to go next week,” said Gailey.

When asked if he’s healthy enough to practice fully and play in a game Gailey indicated that they were.

“We have to wait until we get on the field,” said Gailey. “All indications are everything is okay, but we have to wait. Also football readiness is a different thing as well.”

TE Nelson update

Bills TE Shawn Nelson was back in the locker room Monday as his four game league-imposed suspension came to a close. However, he’s also coming off a surgical procedure.

Nelson when asked if he was healthy revealed that he suffered a groin injury in the preseason.

“I tore my groin and I’m coming back from surgery,” Nelson said Monday. ”I had surgery like four weeks ago, but I feel fine.”

When asked if the groin is completely healed with no residual effects. Nelson said he’s still “feeling it,” but that he’s almost done with his rehab. We hope to get an update from head coach Chan Gailey was to whether Nelson will be fit to play on Sunday.

Tight end could be added soon

With Shawn Nelson and Derek Schouman both injured, Buffalo has just two healthy tight ends on the roster in Jonathan Stupar and Michael Matthews. Head coach Chan Gailey indicated they’re probably going to add a tight end to the roster sooner rather than later.

“Yeah, we’re checking out everything,” said Gailey. ”Buddy [Nix] is looking for everybody that’s out there and available, and we’re going to try to make a good decision about who to come in here and be a part of this thing.”

S. Nelson not practicing

Bills TE Shawn Nelson is in attendance at practice this afternoon, but he’s not practicing.

Nelson’s league-imposed suspension does allow him to practice in the preseason, but he is not doing so.

Nelson did not play in Thursday night’s preseason game. We hope to find out why from Chan Gailey following practice.

Fan Friday 8-20

Here’s the latest edition.

On the heels of the preseason win over the Colts wanted to get to some of your most recent questions as well as some I’ve been meaning to get to. (AskChris@bills.nfl.net).

1 - Hey Chris,
Wondering how Marcus Stroud is feeling about sliding to end this year? I hear that he is slimmed down a bit.  I personally think he is going to be a beast out wide and am really excited to see what he can do this season playing in a 3-4.  Your thoughts?
Go Bills!
Adam (Los Angeles)

CB: Stroud is the fittest he’s ever been in his career. He’s hovering just under 300 right now, which works for where he’s going to be lining up this season. He’s excited about playing the five-technique or DE spot in the 3-4. Had a good showing against Indy with a tackle for loss. What we all have to remember is those spots up on the line in the 3-4 are not the glamor positions at all. They are often asked to stand there and grind with the linemen while the linebackers clean up behind them and make plays. That being said, I believe that him along with Kyle Williams and Dwan Edwards is a good front three in year one of a new scheme.

2 - It seems that the battle is between Edwards and Brohm. I think Brohm gives them the best chance to air the ball out due to Edwards being reluctant to go deep. Do you think this will sway Gailey’s decision? Do you think he would go with him if he believes Brohm will take more chances? Thanks again for your coverage.

Wes

Only Bills Fan in KY

CB: I respectfully disagree. Edwards has been more willing to push the ball downfield in the practice setting in training camp and followed through in the second preseason game against Indy. I think Brohm isn’t shy about going downfield either, but Edwards I believe is no longer under the shroud of conservative play that was pressed upon him by the previous coaching regime. And as for the only Bills in Kentucky signature, I think George Wilson, a Paducah native with family in the Bluegrass State would respectfully disagree with you.

3 - Hi Chris,

Thanks for all the great updates. Quick question, I didn’t see Shawn Nelson on the field last night versus the Colts.  Is he injured?

Thanks

Jon

CB: You’re right he did not play in the Indy game, but as you know by now he was suspended by the league for the first four games of the regular season. He can still play and practice in the preseason. We’ll have to ask Chan on Saturday at camp why he did not even play.

4 – Chris, 

With Coach Gailey’s reputation for working with the talent he has, I was wondering how long it takes him to determine his players strengths and tailor his offense for them?   I imagine a lot of the ground work can be laid during practice, but I assume there is an amount of live game snaps to finally decide on strengths and weaknesses, probably a trial and error situation until he is finally comfortable with the type of play selection that will be used. 

Thanks,

Phil

CB: He’s told me that he and his staff use the preseason games to make final determinations. In fact with the three-headed monster in the offensive backfield, it was his intention to determine specific roles for Jackson, Lynch and Spiller based on how they performed and executed certain plays. That of course has been delayed by the Jackson and Lynch injuries, but that’s how he approaches it with every position. And if you think about it, do you really know until you see a player try and execute in live game conditions? His approach makes sense to me.

5 – Chris,

I know it’s still early in the preseason, but I see a long season.  But did you think there were any stand-outs in the games?  Do you think the Bills will go to free agency or trades to help the team or will they go with what they have and season them? 

John Supple

Lancaster, CA

CB:  I think you have to take into account a few things with respect to this season. First and foremost when NFL teams implement new schemes on offense, defense and special teams, no matter how much you rep it in practice it’s still not the same as in the games. Making those adjustments at game speed takes some getting used to, which is why most teams under a new coach are not wildly successful.

As Buddy Nix has stated, he is not a proponent of quick fixes in free agency unless it can make the team dramatically better. He believes in building through the draft. So I think despite the fact that there is a lot of talent on this team there are still holes. And those holes will be filled in a methodical fashion, not a quick fix fashion. I know patience is the last thing Bills fans have after 10 years of no playoffs, but rebuilding a team is a process, not a snap of the fingers.

TE Nelson on the QB race

TE Shawn Nelson was asked how he’s adjusting to catching passes in the practice setting from different quarterbacks, and if it’s made the process difficult. His answer to the question, however, assessed the quarterback race.

“I don’t know what the quarterback situation is, but whoever gets the starting job… I believe all of them are doing a good job right now,” said Nelson. ”They’re in their playbooks heavy, they all look like they know what they’re doing. I’m very excited about it whoever the quarterback will be.

“I’m more than happy to go with someone the coaches believe in. All the quarterbacks are doing a fine job even Levi Brown, he’s stepped it up a lot since OTAs.”

Brown hit Nelson with a pass in stride down the seam for 25 yards in Saturday’s practice, a route that Nelson can do a lot of damage with this season.

Nelson gives kids a charge

Shawn Nelson was back home in Louisiana this past weekend, the last before camp opens, giving some aspiring football players some advice.

Nelson was the guest speaker on the final day of a five week flag football camp in his hometown of Gonzales where he spoke to youngsters about the game and life.

Nelson is expected to play a big role in Buffalo’s offense this season in new head coach Chan Gailey’s attack.

OTA update

The offense is down a couple of passing targets here at OTA practice Wednesday.

Roscoe Parrish and Shawn Nelson are among those not in attendance at the voluntary workout.