The Buffalo Bills are playing for nothing but draft position in Week 17, and they’ll likely end the 2015 regular season with running back LeSean McCoy on the sideline.
Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News notes head coach Rex Ryan said it doesn’t look promising for McCoy, who was considered week-to-week after tearing the MCL in his right knee.
Rex says it "probably doesn't look real good" for RB LeSean McCoy (knee) playing Sunday for #Bills.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) December 30, 2015
Assuming McCoy is out, expect Karlos Williams and Mike Gillislee to share the backfield, though Williams is likely to receive more snaps. In the win over the Cowboys, Williams recorded 19 touches to Gillislee’s 11, and both players reached the end zone.
McCoy sustained the injury during a loss to the Washington football team and missed the Bills’ Week 16 tilt vs. the Dallas Cowboys.
If he’s indeed unable to suit up against the New York Jets, McCoy will end his first season in Buffalo with 12 appearances. He’s tallied 895 rushing yards and three touchdowns, adding 32 receptions for 292 yards and two scores — each of which are the second-lowest marks of his career.
However, that doesn’t mean the acquisition was a failure. The Bills traded injury-prone linebacker Kiko Alonso in exchange for McCoy. Alonso had little impact for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Buffalo need not push McCoy onto the field, because the franchise is merely a playoff spoiler, not a contender. A win over the Jets could knock the AFC East rivals out of the postseason, but that’s not McCoy’s burden to carry.
Let Williams and Gillislee handle one more game, get healthy and start preparing for 2016.