Marcus

Easley

The specifics are unknown, including whether it’s a life-threatening issue. The ailment popped up on Easley suddenly late last week, forcing him from practice. Hopefully it’s something he can manage while continuing to play football in 2012.

Easley came down with a mystery illness late last week and had already been ruled out for Week 2. It’s a major setback for a promising receiver who had a shot to ascend to the No. 2 role if he continued to progress in practices. This is the second straight season that Easley will spend on injured reserve.

Worrisome news after Easley was a late addition to the Week 1 injury report. Buried on the depth chart behind Steve Johnson, David Nelson, Donald Jones and Roscoe Parrish, Easley is going to find targets hard to come by once he gets back on the field.

As one of the weaker No. 2 receivers in the NFL, Jones is hardly entrenched. While the Bills remain high on size/speed prospect Marcus Easley, beat writer Joe Buscaglia believes it’s a “stretch” to expect him to compete for the starting job after missing two seasons due to injuries. David Nelson will work out of the slot again this season.

Marcus Easley has been medically cleared for OTAs, while David Nelson and Donald Jones are set to return behind Steve Johnson. Easley has potential to emerge as the Bills’ No. 2 receiver this season, but has been setback by injuries in consecutive years.

The Bills are intrigued by what little they’ve seen of 2010 fourth-rounder Marcus Easley, but “we don’t know what we’ve got,” said Nix. "... He’s a really big, strong, guy, he’s 225 pounds who can run. He ran a 4.40. He can run after the catch, we haven’t had that much.” Easley’s heart condition has been “completely solved,” but Nix doesn’t want to enter the 2012 season with just Easley, David Nelson, and Donald Jones behind Johnson.

“As far as I’m concerned I’m still on the team and I’m welcomed to attend meetings and work out if I’d like to,” Easley said. “With the things that were going on, I really couldn’t do too much but right now I’m just taking things day-by-day and hoping for the best.” Easley remains without a timetable for a return to football activities.

Chan Gailey was asked Wednesday whether Easley will play football again. “That’s up to him,” said Buffalo’s head coach. “We’re going to give him every opportunity but that’s up to him. Every player gets an opportunity. What they do with that opportunity is totally up to them.” Easley was a fourth-round pick in 2010.

Gailey conceded nothing is final before camp, but Jones has the experience edge on Marcus Easley and rookie T.J. Graham at Z receiver. Derek Hagan is working behind Stevie Johnson at X. In seven starts last year, Jones managed just 23 catches for 231 yards and one score. It’s not a great fantasy position.

The Bills ran a lot of four- and five-wide sets and rotated heavily. Still, Easley appeared to be behind Stevie Johnson, Donald Jones, T.J. Graham, and Derek Hagan. David Nelson didn’t even play.