Bills linebacker Manny Lawson cleared for practice
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) Manny Lawson knocked twice on the wooden podium when asked about the rash of injuries that have depleted the Buffalo Bills' depth at outside linebacker.
''I can see how one would say being an outside linebacker's a jinx,'' Lawson said Tuesday. ''Let's just hope the rest of the guys don't follow misfortune.''
On a day defensive tackle Marcell Dareus' four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy dominated headlines, there was a glimmer of good news at the Bills' training camp facility in suburban Rochester.
Lawson passed his physical and returned to practice after sitting out the first two weeks of camp with a partially torn pectoral muscle.
The 10-year veteran was hurt last month when he felt something give while he was bench-pressing 405 pounds. Fortunately, he said, he stopped in time and the muscle wasn't torn entirely, which would have forced him to miss the season.
Before being hurt, Lawson was pegged to start the season on the left side. He would be filling in for rookie first-round pick Shaq Lawson, who had shoulder surgery in May and is expected to miss at least the first month of the season.
Buffalo then lost third-stringer IK Enemkpali, who was placed on the waived/injured list Monday, two days after he tore a ligament in his right knee in a preseason-opening 19-18 loss to Indianapolis. The Bills then signed eighth-year linebacker Kroy Biermann.
The Bills plan to ease Lawson back into practice. He was limited to working in individual drills, and there's no plan yet as to whether he will play in one of Buffalo's remaining three preseason games.
Coach Rex Ryan has already ruled out Lawson from playing against the New York Giants on Saturday.
NOTES: CB Nickell Robey-Coleman wore a protective boot on his left foot a day after hurting his ankle. ... S Aaron Williams was allowed to watch practice for the first time since Thursday, when he sustained a potential concussion during a collision with receiver Dez Lewis.
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