Bills RB Fred Jackson practiced with the team on Tuesday, but coach Chan Gailey said he’s still not comfortable confirming that the 29-year-old will be back Week 1.
“I’m not ready to commit to that,” Gailey said in response to rumors that Jackson would be back in the line-up vs. the Dolphins on Sept. 12. “I think that’s a wait and see [for the] Miami deal.
Jackson has not played with the team since breaking his hand in the first quarter of the Bills Aug. 13 preseason opener vs. Washington. The 4-year pro took the field with only a wrap on his hand, but looked “rusty” according to his coach.
“Fred did ok. He’s rusty. He hasn’t done much of anything and has a hard time handling the ball completely, but he moved around pretty good. He’s in good shape still. He takes care of himself,” Gailey said.
Jackson entered this season as the Bill’s starting running back after winning the job from RB Marshawn Lynch in Week 12 and posting his first career 1,000+ yard season in 2009. The injury certainly disappointed Jackson so just getting involved with the team again was good enough for him.
“It’s always good to get back out there,” Jackson said. “I’m kind of getting a feel for things and just looking at some football. It’s always good to get back out there and be with my teammates.”
Gailey only allowed Jackson to catch passes during practice, and while the running back said he felt good, he understood the pace on the field today was nowhere near what it will be at the start of the regular season.
“I think the quarterbacks took it easy on my today, but I was able to catch some,” he said. “I caught as much as possible, using the hand to see what it would feel like. It felt fine during it, so hopefully next week I could come out and do more stuff with it.”
But unlike his coach, Jackson insists he’s more than ready to be on the field Week 1. “I feel there’s a 100-percent chance that I could play,” he said. “It’s just going to come down to how much they want to get me out there and if they want to use me. I still don’t know what the deal is. I think we’ll find out more next week.
Tuesday’s practice also marked the first time since the start of the preseason that all three Buffalo’s RBs were on the field at once, as Lynch also fully returned to practice from his high ankle sprain today. Gailey stuck by his comment yesterday that Lynch would play in the team’s final preseason game vs. Detroit on Thursday. He added that S Jairus Byrd is “on track” and may be back for Week 1 as well.