In desperate need of a boost on offense, the Bills will hope to get that with the return of running back C.J. Spiller. (Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig — USA Today Sports)
BBD Editor: Dan Hope
Fresh off their biggest win of the season, as they beat the Green Bay Packers 21-13 on Sunday, the Buffalo Bills are set to get another boost as arguably their most dynamic offensive player, running back C.J Spiller, is being added back to the team’s active roster from injured reserve with a return designation.
After a week of evaluating his progress, Bills coach Doug Marrone announced Friday that will be on the 53-man team and is probable to play Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.
It’s unknown if Spiller will be 100 percent after missing eight weeks with a broken collarbone, or what role he will play in his return to the offense. At the least, he gives the Bills offense—which certainly needs any spark it can get—another weapon to work with in its final two games of the regular season, as Buffalo makes a push for a potential AFC playoff spot.
In seven games played this year, Spiller has 69 carries for 287 yards and 14 receptions for 109 yards. He did not have great success offensively early in the season for the Bills, although he did have a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2.
When Spiller has the ball in his hands in his space, he can absolutely be a dangerous playmaking threat. Combining great speed with lateral agility, Spiller can make defenders miss in the open field and make a big play happen any time the ball is in his hands.
The problem with Spiller so far with Doug Marrone and Nathaniel Hackett leading Buffalo’s offense, in addition to his trouble healthy, has been a lack of proper utilization. The Bills have frequently tried to run him between the tackles, where he is generally ineffective, although screen plays to Spiller haven’t had much more success.
Therefore, Spiller’s return shouldn’t be expected to be a magic savior of the Bills’ struggling offense. Running back play hasn’t been the Bills’ problem—Fred Jackson, Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown have all played fine. What the Bills really need is better play from their quarterback, Kyle Orton, and their offensive line.
Even so, the Bills should embrace Spiller’s return if he is ready to go. They have to be creative with him, as he’s probably the worst of their four running backs between the tackles, but he still has as much ability—save possibly for rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins—to make a game-changing play as anyone on the Buffalo offense.
To clear a spot for Spiller’s return, the Bills released fullback Frank Summers on Tuesday. The move should not have come as a big surprise to anyone, as Summers had been inactive for four straight games and had gone from having a small role in the team’s offense to none whatsoever. With four quality running backs on the team, as well as an H-back in MarQueis Gray who brings more playmaking ability to the field and had taken Summers’ place on the 46-man gameday roster since being claimed in November, the team had little reason to keep Summers, who does not bring enough to the table as a blocker to have great value as a fullback.