Aug 14, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) runs the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Bills running back LeSean McCoy's injured left hamstring will be healed in time for Buffalo's regular-season opener against Indianapolis on Sept. 13, a person familiar with the situation told the AP on Wednesday.
McCoy was hurt a day earlier during a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Bills have not issued any updates on McCoy's status.
Following practice, coach Rex Ryan said trainers informed him the hamstring was intact and had not been pulled off the bone, which he described as "a real positive." Ryan, however, said it was too early to provide a timetable on when McCoy could return because the player was scheduled to have tests to determine the severity of the injury.
The Bills were off on Wednesday as they traveled to Cleveland to play a preseason game on Thursday night.
McCoy was hurt about an hour into practice when he pulled up while running a route during a 7-on-7 red-zone drill against the Browns. He slowly walked to the sideline holding the back of his left leg and then sat on the turf, where he was attended to by numerous trainers. He required help getting up and didn't bend his left leg while slowly making his way to the locker room alongside team doctor Les Bisson and trainer Shone Gibson.
McCoy's injury created a scare because it has the potential of delivering a big blow to the Bills, who acquired the two-time All-Pro in a trade that sent linebacker Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia in March.
McCoy led the NFL with 1,607 yards rushing in 2013, and was regarded as the centerpiece in Buffalo's plan to establish a run-first offense under Ryan. The former New York Jets coach took over the Bills in January, replacing Doug Marrone, who stepped down on Dec. 31.
The injury also trimmed an already injury-depleted group of running backs. Fred Jackson (hamstring), rookie Karlos Williams (undisclosed procedure), Boobie Dixon (calf) and Bryce Brown (undisclosed) are sidelined and each expected to miss between one and two more weeks.
The Bills addressed their lack of depth at running back by signing Cierre Wood on Wednesday. Wood, an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, appeared in five games split between Houston and New England in 2013. He was on Seattle's roster last season, but did not appear in any games.
He joins a patchwork backfield that's down to two running backs, undrafted rookies Bronson Hill and Ricky Seale. The Bills signed Seale on Tuesday to replace Williams.
Buffalo also signed free agent defensive lineman Red Bryant. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 323 pounds, Bryant has seven seasons of NFL experience, and spent last year playing with Jacksonville.
He spent his first six seasons in Seattle, after the Seahawks selected him in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. Overall, Bryant has had 71 starts in 80 career games.
The Bills freed up space on their roster by releasing tight end Chris Manhertz and cornerback Rod Sweeting.
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