ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills placed starting cornerback Jason Webster on injured reserve Thursday.
Webster's season is over after he broke his forearm in the second half of Buffalo's 15-14 season-opening loss to Denver last weekend. It's not clear how he was hurt, but it's the latest blow to an already injury-depleted defense as the team prepares to play at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
The Bills also signed linebacker Leon Joe, a three-year NFL veteran who was waived by Tampa on Sept. 2. Joe has one start in 28 career games, split between Chicago and Arizona.
The Bears selected Joe out of Maryland in the fourth-round of the 2004 draft.
Webster is the third player this week to be placed on IR, following tight end Kevin Everett (spinal cord injury) and starting free safety Ko Simpson. Both were also hurt against Denver.
The Bills are also minus converted safety Coy Wire (sprained knee), who was starting at linebacker in place of injured Keith Ellison (high ankle sprain). Buffalo lacks experienced depth at defensive end behind starters Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay.
Ryan Denney is out until next month because of a broken foot, and Anthony Hargrove is serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Al Wallace was placed on IR before the start of the season when he hurt his shoulder in Buffalo's preseason finale.
Webster had a reputation for being injury-prone when the Bills signed the seven-year veteran in May to take over after the team lost star Nate Clements to free agency.
After never missing a game in his first three seasons with San Francisco, Webster had not completed a full season in his past four -- including the last three with Atlanta. The Falcons, who signed Webster to a six-year deal in 2004, released him in May.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
