Bills RB LeSean McCoy has been battling a persistent hamstring ailment since August. After leaving Buffalo's Week 3 win at Miami prematurely, he admitted he sustained a setback leading up to the Dolphins game and proceeded to miss Buffalo's Week 4 and Week 5 games. He vowed he would not return to action until he was 100 percent, but knowing the magnitude of Sunday's AFC matchup with undefeated Cincinnati, a probable McCoy intends to play.
"Right now with how the season is going we need this win," said McCoy after practice Friday. "A lot of guys are banged up. We're looking to get a big win here and one more and go into the bye week and that's the time to get healthy with a full week of treatments so that's the mindset. One hundred (percent) or not we need this win so I'm out there with my teammates."
Head coach Rex Ryan is hopeful that McCoy can be a shot in the arm for his offense, which has struggled to put points on the board in the first half the last two games managing just a field goal.
"We're anticipating that we're going to get a whole lot from him," Ryan told Buffalobills.com. "He might not be at 100 percent, but we'll take him where he's at. We'll definitely make sure that (running backs coach) Anthony Lynn is watching him closely, but if he's at no further risk of injury he's going to be out there." Knowing McCoy has already suffered one setback with the hamstring injury before some suspect that the Bills feature back might be given a limited workload on Sunday. McCoy said that hasn't been discussed… yet.
"We still haven't talked about that," said McCoy. "We'll sit down and probably talk about it and see what happens, but when my number is called I'm going to be out there and make plays."
With Karlos Williams out another week with a concussion, Buffalo has only McCoy, Boom Herron and Boobie Dixon at the running back position.
Watkins, Taylor questionable
Meanwhile fellow offensive weapon Sammy Watkins is questionable for Sunday's game with a calf injury. Earlier in the week Watkins said there's a "high chance" that he plays. Starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor is also questionable as he tries to return from a sprained MCL suffered in last week's win at Tennessee. If he can't go EJ Manuel will make his first start in more than a calendar year.
"Every player is different. Every player has their own mindset," McCoy said. "I've been in the league long enough to know when I can go and when I can't go. If I'm comfortable enough I'm going to go, so it's about staying comfortable. If you're not comfortable and you're not 100 percent and you're not close to 100 percent you let your team down. My situation is a lot better so I'm ready to go out there and play."
