Scott

Chandler

The burly tight end displayed almost nonexistent lateral quickness on his only target of the afternoon. Since his five-catch, 63-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 1, Chandler has hauled in just seven catches for 38 yards and two scores. Unless your only requirement for a bye week fill-in is the chance they’ll score a fluky touchdown, Chandler is a no-go in all formats.

“We’re in contact with his representatives and we’re trying very hard to get him back in the fold and get a deal done with him,” said Whaley. The Bills will meet with Chandler’s representatives at the Combine this weekend.

''Chandler, going into the year, had caught one pass in his career,’' Nix said. ''He’s probably more productive to us than he is to someone else. I don’t know if that’s something he may want to find out, but a lot of the time I think the grass may seem greener, but it may not always be.’' Chandler, 26, broke out for 389 yards and six touchdowns with the Bills last season. He is not expected to command interest on the free agent market.

Beat writer Joe Buscaglia puts the Bills’ chances of re-signing Chandler at “23 to 1,” and thinks they believe they can “make another Chandler rather than over-paying for the actual Chandler.” Refusing to overpay for a tight end who faded down the stretch last season and had just one career catch coming into 2011 would be the wisest course of action.

The Bills will look to stay in-house with free agent Scott Chandler. “We’ll use a guy that has talent,” coach Chan Gailey said. “I’m not going to try and put a square peg in a round hole just to say we’ve got a tight end or just to use a tight end.” Chandler, 26, broke out for 389 yards and six touchdowns last season. Assistant GM Doug Whaley suggested the team was ''close to a deal’’ when the two sides met in Indianapolis last weekend.

He actually broke the news on Twitter. Chandler paid his dues for four seasons on practice squads and injured reserve lists before emerging as a starter in Buffalo last season. Playing slot receiver in the Bills’ nickel offense and being featured in the red zone, he scored six touchdowns. Chandler is only about a 40-percent player in the offense, however. He’ll be worth a look as a TE2 in 2012 fantasy leagues, but nothing more.

“I think he has a huge upside,’' Metzelaars said. ''A lot of people don’t give him credit for his blocking, but I think he does that very well and can still get better at it. I look forward to developing him” Chandler, 26, was only a ‘’40-percent’’ player in 2011 but stands to benefit from returning to the same offense next season.

He appeared to beat Redskins MLB London Fletcher in coverage on both of the scores. We know what Chandler is by now: A big, plodding possession tight end whom Ryan Fitzpatrick enjoys targeting deep in scoring position. He’s got six touchdowns on the year, but only 15 receptions for 133 yards in seven games.

Chandler’s six touchdowns tie him with Pete Metzelaars and Jay Riemersma. Still, even quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said the game plan doesn’t usually feature Chandler. “Stevie [Johnson] can catch two, David [Nelson] can catch two, whoever it is. That’s just the way it went today,” Fitzpatrick said. Chandler has just 15 catches all season.

This is now a multi-week injury, hinting at a high ankle sprain. Drawing the start in place of Chandler Sunday, Lee Smith had one reception for no yards.