BILLS’ WHITNER HAS SEPARATED SHOULDER

It sounds like the Buffalo Bills will have to battle the New England Patriots for first place this weekend without starting strong safety Donte Whitner. He suffered a separated shoulder during Sunday’s 26-17 loss to the Jets. “Donte is going to be week to week as opposed to day to day; it was fairly significant,” coach Dick Jauron said. “It’s not the best news we got.” Whitner has 37 tackles and one sack so far this season. His absence would likely mean Bryan Scott will return to the starting lineup. Scott started in place of Ko Simpson in the two games preceding the matchup with the Jets and has 21 tackles and a sack this year. The Bills’ secondary is dealing with a couple of other injury problems. Ashton Youboty has missed three games with a foot injury and Jabari Greer injured his wrist during the loss to the Jets. Greer didn’t show any effect from the injury while picking off a Brett Favre pass for a fourth quarter touchdown, though, and both he and Youboty are expected to play this weekend.