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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Passed over in the NFL draft in April, quarterback Jeff Tuel settled on signing with the Buffalo Bills a few days later with the sole objective of cracking the teams roster. As of Monday, the raw rookie out of Washington State is in line to start in the Bills season opener against New England Sept. 8. "I came here to play football, and thats what Im doing," Tuel said. "It just explains, you can never expect. You never know whats going to happen in this league. "Its why youve got to be ready." Tuel is in this position because of a string of injuries that have hit the Bills quarterback position. Veteran Kevin Kolb is out indefinitely after sustaining a concussion -- the third of his seven-year career -- in a 30-7 loss to Washington on Saturday. Then theres rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel, who might not be ready to play because hes still recovering from a left knee injury he hurt in a 20-16 win over Minnesota a week earlier. The Bills did sign free agent Matt Leinart on Sunday, but the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner needs time to become familiar with the offence. Should Tuel start against New England, he would be the first undrafted rookie directly out of college to start in Week 1 for any team since the NFL merger in 1970, according to STATS LLC. This is not exactly what rookie coach Doug Marrone envisioned when he intended to have his starter in place within 10 days of the season. "Well, I dont know if Id use the word crazy," Marrone said. "But I would say a little bit of adversity, for sure." And that wasnt the only unsettling news to greet the Bills, who returned to practice in preparing for their preseason finale against Detroit Thursday. Top cornerback Stephon Gilmore will miss between six and eight weeks after breaking his left wrist against Washington. Its an injury that further depletes a cornerback position that already lacks experienced depth behind Leodis McKelvin. Running back C.J. Spiller has been excused to be with his family near Jacksonville, Fla., where his step-grandfather Hubert Allen Jr. allegedly killed two people and shot two others before killing himself on Saturday. Marrone said the team has been in contact with Spiller, but theres no timetable as to when hell return. Chris Hairston, who was supposed to compete for the starting right tackle job, was placed on the season-ending reserve/non-football illness list. Hairston has not practiced after opening training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list. And two-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd didnt sound entirely thrilled to be back in Buffalo after practicing with the team for the first time since signing his one-year, $6.9 million franchise tender last week. Byrd said he didnt want to be a distraction, but acknowledged being "disappointed" when Buffalo applied the franchise tag in March to prevent him from testing free agency. Byrd declined to say whether hes asked to be traded. He wouldnt directly answer a question regarding his chances of playing in Buffalo next season. Byrd only noted that the Bills have the option to place the franchise tag on him again next year. The two sides failed to negotiate a long-term deal before a July 15 deadline. That left Byrd the option of accepting the tender or losing pay once he began missing regular season games. Byrds not sure how ready hell be to open the season after having missed the entire off-season of practice "Only time will tell," he said. The problem is the Bills are quickly running out of time, and healthy bodies. At the least, Buffalo has some reinforcements at quarterback, with Leinart and Thaddeus Lewis each making their practice debuts. Lewis was acquired Sunday in a trade that sent linebacker Chris White to Detroit. Tuel, 22, found it strange providing offensive tips to a 30-year-old Leinart, a 2006 first-round pick. "It was odd," Tuel said. "The last time I saw Matt, I was watching him in the Rose Bowl in the national championship play Texas, and I was in the stands. I was like in eighth grade." The injuries to Manuel and Kolb have at least provided Tuel additional practice and playing time than most third-stringers usually get. In three preseason games, hes combined for 31 of 43 for 299 yards passing, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Leinart is happy to get one more chance to prove himself after spending the entire off-season looking for a job. After spending his first four seasons in Arizona, hes on his third team in as many years. "Im just excited just to be here obviously and humbled and just thankful for the opportunity," said Leinart, who is expected to play Thursday. "Obviously, I know nothing is guaranteed ever. But Im excited to be playing football. "I was getting bored." Discount Yeezy Store . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte. Wholesale Yeezy Shop . The Irish golfer, whose father Patrick died from cancer, says he underwent surgery for sun spots. The 42-year-old Harrington told Irish radio station Today FM: "Ive had a number of skin cancers removed off my face. https://www.yeezychina.us/ Wholesale Yeezy China . Catch the game on TSN starting at 7pm et/4pm pt. You can also listen to all the action live on TSN 1050 at 7pm et. The Knicks are two games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference race. Yeezy China .L. - Defending womens champion Alberta improved to 3-0 at the Canadian junior curling championships with a 10-3 win over Ontario in Sundays afternoon draw.Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The following is a list of inactive players for tonights game. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT DETROIT LIONS, 1:00 PM (ET) Tampa Bay - None Detroit - None NEW YORK JETS AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS, 1:00 PM (ET) NY Jets - TE Jace Amaro, G Dakota Dozier, OL Wesley Johnson, WR Walter Powell, QB Matt Simms, CB Josh Thomas, DL Muhammad Wilkerson Minnesota - LB Anthony Barr, DE Scott Crichton, FB Zach Line, CB Jabari Price, LB Brandon Watts, OT JMarcus Webb, G David Yankey ST. LOUIS RAMS AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS, 1:00 PM (ET) St. Louis - TE Alex Bayer, DE Alex Carrington, TE Justice Cunningham, S Lamarcus Joyner, CB Marcus Roberson, G Brandon Washington, DE Ethan Westbrooks Washington - QB Kirk Cousins, DE Kedric Golston, WR DeSean Jackson, G Josh LeRibeus, S Brandon Meriweather, OT Tyler Polumbus, LB Keenan Robinson PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1:00 PM (ET) Pittsburgh - WR/RB Dri Archer, WR Justin Brown, DE Clifton Geathers, OT Marcus Gilbert, LB James Harrison, QB Landry Jones, CB B.W. Webb Cincinnati - LB Vontaze Burfict, LB Chris Carter, OT Tanner Hawkinson, DE Margus Hunt, CB Chris Lewis-Harris, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, WR James Wright HOUSTON TEXANS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS, 1:00 PM (ET) Houston - OT Jeff Adams, DB Josh Aubrey, LB Jadeveon Clowney, TE Garrett Graham, DB Andre Hal, QB Thad Lewis, WR DeVier Posey Jacksonville - DE Andre Branch, LB A.J. Edds, LB Khairi Fortt, CB Jeremy Harris, RB Storm Johnson, OG Tyler Shatley, WR Tommy Streeter INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, 1:00 PM (ET) Indianapolis - CB Vontae Davis, NT Zach Kerr, G Lance Louis, OT Andrew McDonald, OT Xavier Nixon, LB Andy Studebaker, G Hugh Thornton Cleveland - TE Gary Barnidge, LB Karlos Dansby, DB Tashaun Gipson, DB Robert Nelson, OT Vinston Painter, WR Rodney Smith, RB Glenn Winston BALTIMORE RAVENS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1:00 PM (ET) Baltimore - None Miami - CB Cortland Finnegan, LB Jonathan Freeny, G Nate Garner, RB LaMichael James, LB Chris McCain, CB Jamar Taylor, OT Billy Turner CAROLINA PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 1:00 PM (ET) Carolina - CB James Dockery, OT David Foucault, S Robert Lester, LB Horace Miller, DT Micanor Regis, G Amini Silatolu, RB DeAngelo Williams New Orleans - None NEW YORK GIANTS AT TENNESSEE TITANS, 1:00 PM (ET) NY Giants - None Tennessee - None KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS, 4:05 PM (ET) Kansas City - None Arizona - None BUFFALO BILLS AT DENVER BRONCOS, 4:05 PM (ET) Buffalo - None Denver - None SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT OAKLAND RAIDERS, 4:25 PM (ET) San Francisco - None Oakland - None SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, 4:25 PM (ET) Seattle - None Philadelphia - None NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, 8:30 PM (ET) New England - None San Diego - None ' ' '