Bills S Whitner out with separated shoulder

By JOHN WAWROW

Published November 3, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.

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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) _ If the Buffalo Bills are going to make good on strong safety Donte Whitner's bold playoff guarantee this season, they're going to have to start making that run without him.

Whitner is expected to miss a significant amount of time with a separated right shoulder, an injury that coach Dick Jauron termed to be "fairly significant" on Monday. Jauron wouldn't say how much time Whitner is expected to miss except to note that the player is out on a week-to-week basis.

That's not good for the suddenly reeling Bills (5-3), who have dropped three of four and prepare to play at New England (5-3) on Sunday in a critical matchup between AFC East rivals.

Buffalo has already squandered whatever momentum it had generated since getting off to a 4-0 start, and is now stuck in a three-way tie, rounded out by the New York Jets, atop the division. Miami (4-4) rounds out the tightly contested race.

Whitner was hurt during the Jets' decisive fourth-quarter drive, which ended with Jay Feely's 31-yard field goal that led to a 26-17 victory on Sunday. Though it's not clear when Whitner was hurt, he left the field holding his right arm midway through the drive. He returned for a few plays before he left the game for good, going to the sideline and slumping down in pain.

The injury to Whitner leaves Buffalo minus a defensive captain, its vocal leader and most versatile defensive back, adding to an already banged-up unit that's down its top pass-rusher Aaron Schobel, who's missed the past three games with a left foot injury.

The news isn't good for Schobel either after Jauron suggested the defensive end is still listed as week to week.

And now they'll be without Whitner, who this offseason vowed the Bills would end their eight-year playoff drought, the longest in team history.

"That's not what we want to hear. He's a valuable player on our team," linebacker Kawika Mitchell said, referring to Whitner. "Somebody's definitely going to have to step up and fill his spot as best as possible."

That likely candidate will be reserve Bryan Scott, a six-year player who has spent the past few weeks starting at free safety. Ko Simpson and George Wilson are expected to get more playing time at free safety in place of Scott.

It still won't be easy to replace Whitner, who's been a three-year starter and registered 100 tackles in his first two seasons since the Bills selected him with the No. 8 pick in the 2006 draft out of Ohio State. In eight games this season, he's been credited with 40 tackles with two forced fumbles and a sack.

"Losing Donte is a huge blow to this defense and to this team because he is such a leader," Scott said. "It's an opportunity for me to get in there and hopefully make something happen and try to help this team turn around."

The Bills' confidence has begun to wane in the wake of their sudden skid.

The defense has had difficulty against the pass lately, and their offense has been inept and sloppy in the past two outings, including a 25-16 loss at Miami on Oct. 26.

In those two games, the Bills have committed six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles) and given up a safety. The passing attack looked lost against the Jets without No. 2 receiver Josh Reed, who's out indefinitely with a right foot injury, while the running attack mustered a mere 30 yards against New York.

"I don't really have an answer," quarterback Trent Edwards said of the offensive struggles. "We didn't hold up our end of the bargain and give ourselves a chance to win. And that's what's frustrating right now is the 11 guys on offense, at least me individually, felt like we let some guys down. And we need to fix that pretty soon."

Guard Jason Whittle took part in the team's walkthrough Monday, a day after he hurt his back. Whittle has started in place of Brad Butler, who is expected to practice this week after missing two games with a left knee injury.

Nickel cornerback Ashton Youboty (foot) is expected to resume practicing this week after missing the past two games.

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