Bills lose RB Lynch and Jackson for 3 to 6 weeks has 0 comments

Aug 15th 2010, 20:34 | FFN-Score: 35 points

t's a good thing the Buffalo Bills used their first-round draft pick on a running back this year. They will need one during the preseason.

Fred Jackson will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a broken bone in his left hand, sources told The Buffalo News on Sunday, and Marshawn Lynch is expected to miss three to four weeks because of a sprained ankle. That leaves rookie C.J. Spiller carrying the load for the Bills and gives Joique Bell and Chad Simpson a better chance to make the team.

Jackson, who also could miss the Bills' Sept. 12 season opener against the Miami Dolphins, was hurt during a 7-yard run on the Bills' second play from scrimmage in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Washington Redskins. Jackson was pulled down by the facemask by Redskins safety Kareem Moore, who was penalized on the play, and landed on his right hand while using his left hand to brace for the impact.

Lynch injured his ankle six plays later and also didn't return to the game.

Jackson supplanted Lynch as Buffalo's starting running back last season and finished with a career-best 1,062 rushing yards. Jackson also added 1,014 yards in kickoff returns to become the first NFL player to break the 1,000-yard mark in both categories in the same season.

Lynch, a first-round pick in 2007, topped the 1,000-yard mark in his first NFL seasons, but he rushed for just 450 yards and two touchdowns in 2009 after dealing with off-the-field issues.

The Bills were off Sunday, but they are scheduled to practice Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.