Neither player was a good bet to play in Sunday's game against the Houston Texans for Buffalo, but on Saturday the Bills made it a certainty. The club downgraded starting left guard Chris Williams and wide receiver Marquise Goodwin out for Sunday. Both players were listed as doubtful Friday, but did not travel with the team to Houston Saturday.
Williams did not practice at all this week after a recurring back injury flared up coming out of last Sunday's game against San Diego. The veteran lineman has been dealing with back problems on and off since early in training camp.
With Williams out rookie fifth-round pick Cyril Richardson is expected to be active for the first time this season Sunday. Last week veteran Kraig Urbik stepped in for the injured Williams against San Diego.
Head coach Doug Marrone said that Richardson and Urbik each took reps with the starting unit at practice during the week. He also stated that Urbik is the team's backup center, giving indication that he might be leaning toward having Richardson make his first career start.
Meanwhile Goodwin was able to practice on Wednesday, but only on a limited basis due to an illness. The receiver's injury listing was then changed on Thursday to a head ailment as he was entered into the concussion protocol and did not practice. On Friday his injury was confirmed as a concussion.
Buffalo will go into the game Sunday with just four healthy receivers. Marcus Easley was already declared out of the game earlier in the week with a left knee injury.
Marrone expressed no concern about going into the game with just four receivers, saying they've only dressed six each week because of Easley's large role on special teams. The player expected to step in for Easley's role as a gunner on punt coverage is CB Ron Brooks, who stepped in after Easley left the game last Sunday.
