Bills Rookie May Get Second Start

Wednesday, October 3rd 2007, 3:35 pm

By: News On 6

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Buffalo Bills rookie Trent Edwards will make his second straight start when Buffalo hosts Dallas on Monday night after J.P. Losman missed practice Wednesday.

Coach Dick Jauron ruled J.P. Losman out, saying the quarterback is recovering steadily from a sprained left knee but it's not clear when he'll be able to resume practicing with the team.

Bills quarterback J. P. Losman has been out since he was hurt during the first series of a 38-7 loss at New England on Sept. 23.

Trent Edwards was inconsistent standing in for J.P. Losman against the Patriots, but shined leading the Bills to their first victory in his first career start, a 17-14 win over the New York Jets last weekend.

The third-round draft pick out of Stanford went 22-of-28 for 234 yards passing with a touchdown and interception, helping the Bills produce a season-high in yards passing, yards offense, first downs and points. Edwards' 78.57 completion percentage was the eighth best in team history and his performance raised speculation that he will retain the No. 1 job once J.P. Losman is healthy.

Bills Coach Dick Jauron continued to sidestep questions about whether quarterback J.P. Losman would get his job back.

``The response to that question has always been the same for me, and it has been for a number of years: Any position on our team is up for grabs. It always is,'' Coach Dick Jauron said. ``The best guy will be the guy that plays. Other than that, there's not a whole lot to say about that position right now because J.P. isn't able to practice.''

The Bills enter their bye week after playing Dallas, and then host Baltimore on October 21.

Buffalo remains a banged-up team as it prepared to host its first Monday night game since September 26, 1994.

Backup safety Jim Leonhard and reserve linebacker Kevin Harrison were ruled out after both were hurt last weekend. Reserve cornerback Ashton Youboty's status is uncertain after he missed practice with an ankle injury also sustained against the Jets.

That further depletes a defense that already has three starters on the season-ending injured reserve list. And that doesn't include reserve defensive end Ryan Denney and reserve linebacker Coy Wire, both of whom aren't expected back until after the bye.

Starting linebacker Keith Ellison practiced Wednesday for the first time since hurting his knee in Buffalo's preseason finale, but it's not clear whether he'll be ready to play Monday.

The Bills could get back one player on Sunday: reserve defensive end Anthony Hargrove, who finished serving the NFL's four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

The Bills have not yet decided to activate Anthony Hargrove, although he has returned to practice. The Bills have until Monday afternoon to make a decision whether to activate or release Hargrove.

Coach Dick Jauron said he's pleased that Anthony Hargrove stayed in condition while he was suspended, but added the player is not yet in game shape.

``We're pulling for him,'' Coach Jauron said. ``He's a very likable guy, a guy you want to have everything to go well for him. We're in his corner.''

Anthony Hargrove said after practicing with the Bills first special teams unit that he'll be playing.

Anthony Hargrove still faces potential trouble from a confrontation he had with police outside a Rochester nightclub during training camp in August. Hargrove has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanors and is next scheduled in court on October 11.