The Buffalo Bills are holding out hope that Sammy Watkins will be ready for Sunday.
The second-year receiver returned to practice on Thursday, taking part in individual drills with his fellow pass-catchers, per Chris Brown of the team's official website. While Watkins officially was listed as a DNP for the session (his work was relegated to the side).
Watkins missed Wednesday's session with the calf injury that kept him out of Sunday's loss to the New York Giants. "Everything points to (his injury being) not that severe,"Bills general manager Doug Whaley said Tuesday. Bills coach Rex Ryan told reporters Thursday that Watkins is close to a return, but it might not be this week.
Watkins is part of laundry list of banged-up Bills heading into a crucial Week 5 matchup against the Titans. At running back, starter LeSean McCoy (hamstring) and rookie Karlos Williams (concussion) also missed Thursday's practice, paving the way for a potential start on Sunday by Boobie Dixon.
Ryan called Williams' availability for Sunday "a reach."
This isn't how the Bills planned it, especially with Watkins, the summertime "Making the Leap" candidate who has just seven catches for 99 yards on the year. We won't see this offense at full power until Sammy gets back on track.
- Andrew Luckwill not play Thursday for the Colts. He will throw before the game, but Matt Hasselbeck is expected to be tonight's starter.
- Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (hamstring) was limited in practice. Coach Pete Carroll said Lynch was week-to-week on Wednesday.
- DeAndre Levy (hip) was a full participant at Lions practice. Missing Levy has been a huge factor in the Lions' 0-4 start. Haloti Ngata, Eric Ebron, Joique Bell and linebacker Travis Lewis were all missing from the early portion of practice. Brandon Pettigrew and Ziggy Ansah both participated.
- Missing from practice for the Giants were defensive ends Robert Ayers (hamstring) and George Selvie (calf), as well as wideout Victor Cruz (calf).
- Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (back) sat out practice Thursday and won't play this weekend. Tight end Crockett Gillmore and defensive end Chris Canty also did not practice as they rehab respective calf injuries.
- Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) is still limited at practice.
- The Chargers had some of their injured secondary back at practice. Safety Jahleel Addae and cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and Jason Verrett all practiced.
- Logan Mankins (groin) didn't participate in practice for the Bucs. Star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was also limited with a shoulder injury.
- Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas (hand) was limited in practice. Fellow tight end Marcedes Lewis (hamstring) was a full participant after not practicing Wednesday. Linebacker Paul Posluszny (ankle) and running back Denard Robinson (knee) did not participate.
