A Bills loss was again accompanied by a serious injury that landed a player on injured reserve. A day after Sunday's loss in Miami, starting TE Scott Chandler was placed on I-R with a serious, but undisclosed knee injury.
"Scott doesn't look good at all," said head coach Chan Gailey in his postgame press conference. "It's a knee."
Chandler was injured on his first and only catch of the game. It was a 25-yard pass play over the middle, but the tight end went down hard. He was able to get to the sideline with some assistance, but was carted to the locker room and did not return.
Both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Gailey admitted they had to make some adjustments to their game plan concerning the passing game once Chandler was lost to the injury.
"You lose a good amount with Scott not out there in terms of mentally and his feel for the game and we kind of have a good connection," said Fitzpatrick. "It was unfortunate to see him go down with the injury he went down with. You lose a lot when you lose a player like that."
Chandler finished the 2012 season with a career high in catches (43) and receiving yards (571). He also matched his single-season career high for touchdown set last season with six.
Dickerson injury not seriousChandler's replacement in the lineup, Dorin Dickerson also left the game Sunday with an undisclosed injury late in the fourth quarter and was carted off. However, the news is much better for the H-back.
"It wasn't as bad as they thought," said head coach Chan Gailey on his weekly radio appearance Monday morning on WGR Sportsradio 550. "All of that was precautionary. It looks like he might have a chance to get back this week. I don't know that he'll practice Wednesday, but he could get back this week."
With Dickerson a question mark for Sunday, Lee Smith is the only healthy tight end on the roster. Buffalo gains a roster spot with Chandler moving to injured reserve and it's likely they sign another tight end to fill out the roster for Sunday's season finale against the Jets.
