Sal Maiorana Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
LeSean McCoy said Thursday that he’s doing all he can to make sure he has a chance to play Sunday in Jacksonville, but nothing has been determined regarding whether it’s possible.
McCoy did not practice for a second straight day. He stretched with his teammates, and then when practice began, he went into the training room to treat his sprained ankle.
After the workout, McCoy spoke to reporters at his locker.
“I feel a lot better,” he said. “I’m out of the (walking) boot. I’m able to walk around without any pain, so that’s (good). I feel OK. Each day, trying to get better. It’s a big game, I’m trying to get out there. It just will take some time.”
McCoy was injured in the third quarter of the season finale in Miami and had to be carted off the field. He was wearing a walking boot in the locker room as the team celebrated qualifying for the playoffs, and you could tell his excitement was muted given his injury.
Coach Sean McDermott continues to be nebulous about McCoy’s status, saying it will be a game-time decision on whether he dresses or not. On Thursday, McDermott said it seems McCoy is moving in the right direction, so, “We’ll just see how he does.”
McCoy, who finished fourth in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,138, is the Bills’ best player on offense. Without him, Buffalo will have a difficult time getting much accomplished against a Jacksonville defense that is one of the best in the league.
If he can’t play, or if he plays but is limited, third-year pro Marcus Murphy would likely have to carry the load.
McCoy’s running style works against him in this situation because he is so reliant on sharp cuts rather than straight downhill running. “I want to be able to cut well enough to where I don’t have a lot of pain cutting,” he said. “I just want to be close, or the best as far as 100 percent as I can get. The type of game like this, you got to lay it all on the line. If I can’t get 100 percent, as long as I’m out there, and I can work effective enough, I’ll do it. We’ll just see.”
McCoy admitted that in the past, playing hurt probably wasn’t such a good idea. Last year against Miami, he played on a sore hamstring and he said, “I didn’t do well at all. It kind of hurt us. I don’t want to be in that same situation. I’ve got a lot of room for improvement, especially to where I want to be at, because I know my body, I know myself. Especially the way I play, the way I cut and run. Just trying to get better.”
Elsewhere on the injury front, linebacker Matt Milano’s hamstring injury kept him off the field for a second day and that’s starting to become a concern. If he can’t play, Ramon Humber would move back into the starting lineup.
“He’s really just a complete player, in terms of what he’s done,” said McDermott. “Really love his toughness, scrappy player, puts in a lot of time in terms of preparation, instinctive football player, I mean the things you look for, our DNA. I couldn’t say more about the way he’s played. The rapport he’s building with Micah (Hyde) as well the linebackers, they’re doing more things in between plays that’s helped our defense. The growth defensively has been phenomenal.”
MAIORANA@Gannett.com
