After suffering neck injury this week, Bills DE Kelsay questionable for Patriots game

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bills received a bit of good news on the injury front Friday, when it was discovered the neck injury that forced Chris Kelsay out of Thursday's practice is not considered serious.

Kelsay, a defensive end, is questionable for Sunday's game vs. New England (5-3).

"It's not major, but I don't know if he can get ready for this week," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "We have to wait and see how the treatment goes."

A 10-year veteran, Kelsay did not participate in practice Friday. He has two sacks and 14 tackles this season.

Also listed as questionable for the Bills (3-5) are defensive linemen Spencer Johnson, Shawne Merriman and Kyle Williams, guard Kraig Urbik and wide receiver Stevie Johnson.

Gailey expects Kyle Moore and Merriman to see increased snaps if Kelsay cannot play on Sunday. The coach says Moore is an improving talent.

"He's gotten better," Gailey said. "He's got some work to do on playing the run. He's gonna have to muscle up this week."

The Bills will face a Patriots team that has rebounded from a slow start and created some separation from the rest of the AFC East. Quarterback Tom Brady has led an offense that's posted 262 points, and New England is already 2-0 in the division.

"We've had a lot of practice time, a lot of film time, a lot of meeting time," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "I think we're excited and ready to get back out there and go. It can't get here soon enough."

New England is coming off a bye.

"Seems like a month since we've played," Belichick said. "I think everybody is excited to get back out there and get going. We have a lot of challenges here with Buffalo in all three phases of the game as a team. Hopefully we're ready to meet those and get back out on the field and start playing again."

In preparation for the Patriots, Buffalo cut safety Delano Howell, while activating safety Manu Silva from the practice squad. Silva entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Baltimore in July 2011 and spent a portion of last season with the Bills practice squad before signing on to the Dallas 53-man roster. Silva, who rejoined the Bills practice squad Oct. 2, is a University at Hawaii product who holds the school record for interceptions.

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NOTES: Patriots RB Brandon Bolden has been suspended by the NFL for four games without pay for violating its policy on performance-enhancing substances. The league's announcement Friday did not specify the substance. The Patriots had no immediate reaction. ... The Patriots and the New England Revolution of MLS will dedicate an empty seat at Gillette Stadium "to honor servicemen and servicewomen who have been listed as prisoners of war or missing in action." ... The Bills are 0-2 in the AFC East.

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