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Bills place RB C.J. Spiller on IR-designated to return

The Buffalo Bills have placed running back C.J. Spiller on injured reserve-designated to return. Spiller broke his clavicle in Buffalo's win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
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The Buffalo Bills have placed running back C.J. Spiller on injured reserve-designated to return, the team announced Tuesday.

Spiller reportedly broke his collarbone in the Bills' victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. He left the game in the second quarter after injuring himself at the end of a 53-yard run.

The fifth-year pro underwent surgery to repair the injury on Monday and tweeted Tuesday that "everything was successful."

It was feared earlier that Spiller would miss the entire season with the injury, but his placement on IR-designated to return means Spiller can resume practicing with Buffalo in Week 14 and can return to the active roster for the team's Week 16 game at the Oakland Raiders.

Spiller had 69 carries for 287 yards this season. Though he played in 15 games, Spiller was also slowed by injury last year, dealing with a high ankle sprain most of the season.

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Fellow running back Fred Jacksonalso injured himself in Buffalo's win over the Vikings. He hurt his groin after a low hit in the first quarter and eventually had to be carted off the field. The veteran said Monday that tests revealed he doesn't need surgery and that his injury typically keeps players out for four weeks.

Jackson has 239 rushing yards, 261 receiving yards and two total touchdowns this season.

The injuries to Jackson and Spiller left Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown as the Bills' only healthy running backs before the team signed Phillip Tanner on Tuesday.

Dixon, in his first year with the Bills after four years with the San Francisco 49ers, has 27 carries for 137 yards this season. Brown, also in his first year with the team after two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, hasn't yet been active for a game this season. Tanner is a third-year player who has 56 career carries, all with the Dallas Cowboys.

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The Bills currently rank 19th in the NFL with 103.4 rushing yards per game. Buffalo is 4-3 after its win over the Vikings and travels to the New York Jets this Sunday.

Ben Estes