ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- His neck wrapped in a brace, Buffalo Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay was having difficulty coming to grips with landing on the season-ending injured reserve list for the first time in his 10-year career.
What's worse, Kelsey understands he can't contribute to helping the Bills make a late-season playoff push.
"To be kind of standing on the sideline and watching it from afar, it's disappointing," Kelsay said Wednesday, shortly after the team announced he had been placed on IR. "I'm envious of those guys being able to go out there and contribute and do what they're capable of doing."
Kelsay is out after partially tearing a ligament in his neck during practice last month. After missing two games, he aggravated the injury in a 20-13 loss at Indianapolis two weeks ago.
Buffalo's 2003 second-round draft pick had only missed seven games due to injury before this season.
Kelsay has been informed that the ligament is expected to heal on its own, and that surgery is not required at this time. With no timetable of when Kelsay will be healthy, the Bills (5-7) needed to free up roster spots to address other injury-depleted positions in preparing to host St. Louis (5-6-1) on Sunday.
Offensive lineman Keith Williams and cornerback T.J. Heath were both promoted from Buffalo's practice squad.
Williams adds depth to a line that will be without starting centre Eric Wood (left knee) and starting right tackle Chris Hairston (right ankle). Wood is expected to miss between two and four weeks, while coach Chan Gailey said Hairston could miss up to three weeks.
Both were hurt in a 34-18 win over Jacksonville last weekend.
That means Sam Young, at tackle, and David Snow, at either guard or centre, will both be making their first career starts on Sunday.
Buffalo's also down at cornerback with Aaron Williams (right knee) Leodis McKelvin (back) and Justin Rogers (foot) nursing injuries.
McKelvin practiced on a limited basis, but said his back felt better after it stiffened before the game against Jacksonville. Receiver Stevie Johnson (left hamstring) was held out of practice after being hurt Sunday, but said he expects to be ready to play against St. Louis.
