Inside The Bills

Bills giving back for Thanksgiving

Bryan Scott, Terrell Owens, Chris Draft and C.J. Hawthorne are giving back to the Buffalo community on their day off today at Buffalo City Mission.

The four players are serving thanksgiving meals late this Tuesday morning to the Men’s Community Center at the City Mission as they provide meals for the homeless and less fortunate in the Buffalo community.

Nelson not at practice

Despite reports to the contrary that he’s signed, fourth-round pick Shawn Nelson is not at practice this morning. Obviously the other unsigned draft picks are not either (Maybin, Wood, Levitre, Byrd).

Also not in attendance is John DiGiorgio.

James Hardy and C.J. Hawthorne as expected are not practicing.

Why C.J. Hawthorne was on crutches

Bills wide receiver C.J. Hawthorne did not participate in any of the spring workouts from rookie camp to mandatory minicamp due to injury. And that injury apparently did not get better as Dick Jauron explained why Hawthorne, who was walking under his own power until Tuesday when he was seen on crutches.

“C.J. in a cast right now and will be for a few more days,” said Jauron. “It’s a leg issue. C.J. has had some surgery and as far as I know C.J. should be ready for camp.”

Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Nick Hennessey also suffered a leg injury during practice in the final OTA Monday. His chances are being ready for training camp are a little cloudier according to Jauron.

Hardy staying busy

As hard as it is to watch his teammates practice without him James Hardy is doing his best to keep busy. Still rehabbing from January ACL surgery Hardy spent time on the sidelines catching passes from the jugs machine with C.J. Hawthorne who also is not participating.

Huggins and Hawthorne have a chance

Of all the future free agents (2008 practice squad players) re-signed by the Bills, Felton Huggins and C.J. Hawthorne are two of the most promising as I see it.

Huggins and Hawthorne both have 4.4 speed and pretty reliable hands. Huggins is still young at the position, but came a long way last offseason and had his best training camp. If Steve Johnson wasn’t drafted last spring, I think Huggins would have made the squad.

Hawthorne is cat-quick and gets in and out of routes in a hurry. He’s that classic smurf receiver. Unfortunately NFL teams are always looking for more size at the position. But both are good players to have in reserve should injuries hit the receiver position. And if they can each take another step forward with their games this offseason they may be able to push people on the 53-man roster.

If Justin Jenkins is not tendered as a restricted free agent, one may even make the team.

As for the others, I think they’re going to take a long look at Marcus Smith. The defensive lineman offers some versatility similar to Spencer Johnson as he could kick out to end if need be, but appears to be more of a DT.

We haven’t had the luxury of watching him much in practice during the regular season, but I’ll be keeping my eye on him in OTAs this spring. The staff likes his potential. The Bills will be in the market for a fourth DT if they decide to part ways with John McCargo, but it’s unclear how that situation will play out right now.

Practice squad add likely a ‘look see’

The addition of WR Mike Jefferson to the practice squad Wednesday was puzzling on the surface. Adding Jefferson means that more than a third of the eight-man units consists of receivers (37.5%).

It also means all but one of the practice squad roster spots is occupied by offensive players.

It’s not like there’s anything wrong with that, but typically practice squads are a bit more balanced. Of course Buffalo has had to draw from the defensive side of their practice squad more this season with the injuries at LB and DB.

I believe the addition of Mike Jefferson is simply to allow the Bills to take a look at him for a few weeks and see what he has to offer.

I know the organization likes Felton Huggins and C.J. Hawthorne, so unless Jefferson is remarkable in practice, I still see those guys as the most likely callups if there is a rash of injuries at the receiver position.