ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Once Tyrod Taylor was cleared Tuesday from the NFL's concussion protocol, it appeared to be smooth sailing health-wise for the Buffalo Bills as they prepared this week for Sunday's opener.
That changed Thursday when star running back LeSean McCoy was not on the field for the start of practice because of an illness. McCoy later returned to finish the session, but was required to be listed as a limited participant on the injury report.
"He got a little ill at practice. Maybe he didn't like the playcall," coach Sean McDermott cracked afterward.
All kidding aside, the Bills enter their Week 1 game against the New York Jets as one of the NFL's healthiest teams.
As of Thursday, the Bills had three players on injured reserve as well as four players on their injury report who either did not participate in practice or were limited participants. The Bills' total of seven injured players was tied with four other teams as the third-lowest sum of injured players in the NFL.
Only the Dallas Cowboys (five injured players) and Philadelphia Eagles (six injured players) had better health than Buffalo entering the opening weekend of the NFL season.
The Bills have just three players on injured reserve: veteran quarterback T.J. Yates (concussion), wide receiver Jeremy Butler (concussion) and undrafted rookie tight end Keith Towbridge (ankle). All three players could either receive injury settlements or be released from injured reserve once healthy. None of the three were expected to contribute this season, with Yates on the fringe of making the 53-man roster before Monday's signing of quarterback Joe Webb.
Only the Oakland Raiders have fewer players on injured reserve -- second-round rookie Obi Melifonwu and guard Denver Kirkland -- than Buffalo.
Outside of McCoy, who McDermott expects to play Sunday, the Bills did not have any starters on their injury report as having missed practice or been limited. Reserve defensive tackle Jerel Worthy (concussion) and linebacker Tanner Vallejo (knee) both remained sidelined, while reserve safety Colt Anderson (foot) was limited.
The Bills had four players who were full participants in Thursday's practice, including left tackle Cordy Glenn (foot) and wide receiver Jordan Matthews (chest), who both missed considerable preseason action. Both are expected to start Sunday's opener.
Who is the NFL's most banged-up team? The New England Patriots lead the way with a total of 19 injured players -- 12 on reserve lists and seven on their final injury report prior to Thursday night's opener against Kansas City.