BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson will have more tests to determine the severity of a left hand injury that will force the starter to miss at least the remainder of the preseason.
Jackson’s agent, Jerome Douglas, told The Associated Press by telephone on Saturday that it’s too early to determine whether his client will require surgery on what he referred to as “a bone injury.” Douglas added that depending on what team doctors inform Jackson, it’s likely the player will seek a second medical opinion.
“All the diagnostic tests have not been fully performed, but he’s going to be out for a little bit,” Douglas said, noting that Jackson is scheduled to meet with doctors today.
Jackson was hurt in a 42-17 preseason loss at Washington on Friday night. Following the game, coach Chan Gailey didn’t divulge the nature of the injury, and would only say that Jackson will miss Buffalo’s final three preseason games.
“We hope to get him back for the first game,” Gailey said, referring to Buffalo’s regular-season opener against Miami on Sept. 12.
Jackson was hurt during a 7-yard run on Buffalo’s second play from scrimmage while being pulled down by the facemask by safety Kareem Moore, who was penalized on the play. Jackson had been using his left hand to stiff-arm Moore, and then landed on the same hand as he fell to the turf.
Jackson did not return. A video on the Bills website shows Jackson on the sideline wearing a cast on left hand.
The Bills are off until Monday, when they return to training camp in suburban Rochester. They next host Indianapolis in a game at Toronto on Thursday night.
It’s a game the Bills might be down another running back after Marshawn Lynch hurt his ankle against the Redskins. Referring to Lynch’s injury, Gailey said he hoped “it’s a lot more short-term than it is long-term.”
The Bills have three other running backs on their roster, led by rookie first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller, who was selected ninth overall out of Clemson.
Jackson supplanted Lynch as the starter last season, and finished with a career-best 1,062 yards rushing. He also added 1,014 yards in kickoff returns to become the first NFL player to break the 1,000-yard mark in both categories in the same season.
He opened training camp as the team’s starter ahead of Lynch and Spiller.
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