ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills' running back corps is getting healthier with Marshawn Lynch set to play in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions.
Bills coach Chan Gailey said Lynch looked good Tuesday in his return to practice for the first time since hurting his ankle in a preseason-opening loss to the Washington Redskins.
"It didn't look like there was any residual effect, so we're looking forward to watching him Thursday night," Gailey said.
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Lynch's return means the Bills will have two-thirds of their running back rotation healthy. First-round draft pick C.J. Spiller has carried most of the running load the past two preseason games, and Fred Jackson has been out since breaking a bone in his left hand against the Redskins.
Wearing a brace around his hand, Jackson practiced Tuesday on a limited basis. Jackson participated in individual drills and also tested his injured hand by catching a few soft passes.
"I felt like I was able to go full-go, but I still can't hold the ball in my left hand like I wanted to with this brace that I have on," Jackson said. "Hopefully, next week, I could come out and do some more stuff."
Jackson is a long shot to be ready for the Bills' Sept. 12 season opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Coming off his first career 1,000-yard season, Jackson opened training camp as the Bills' starter and was expected to see a fair share of carries despite Spiller's addition.
Spiller has proven to be the Bills' offensive star this preseason. In the past two games, he has 22 carries for 106 yards and three touchdowns and three catches for 35 yards.
Gailey said veteran linebacker Kawika Mitchell was absent from practice because of an injury. Gailey would only describe the injury as "a little issue" that the player was having checked.
Cornell Green, who's projected to start at right tackle, didn't practice after hurting his knee during Saturday's preseason victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Gailey said Green's status for Thursday would be a game-time decision.
Rookie offensive tackle Ed Wang practiced on a limited basis for the first time since hurting his left hand Aug. 2. Wang had his hand extensively wrapped, and there's still no timetable on when the fifth-round pick out of Virginia Tech could play.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
