Takeo

Spikes

A switch from the weak side could hurt Spikes’ IDP value and there has been speculation of him doing so. Angelo Crowell took first-team reps at SLB when the Bills opened camp.

Spikes is not expected to participate in any of the Bills’ preseason games and will be very limited until the start of the season. He’s been moved to strong side as well, so Spikes shouldn’t be on IDP radars at the moment.

His availability for training camp as he recovers from a torn Achilles’ tendon is unknown.

Spikes has participated in Bills offseason workouts on a limited basis to this point. It’s unclear what type of player he’ll be in 2006.

It’s a step in the right direction for Spikes, who’s recovering from a severe Achilles injury, and a Bills defense that could flounder against the run. Spikes, Buffalo’s strong-side linebacker, made the first tackle on Cleveland’s opening possession.

Spikes participated extensively in practice Wednesday night and has dramatically increased his workload the past couple weeks. “Right now I’m up to anywhere from 20-25 snaps a day,” he said. “That’s right around the area that everybody else is taking snaps so I feel good about it. My condition feels good. I’m very close.”

Spikes has converted to strong-side linebacker, which could hurt him in IDP leagues. Bills WLB Angelo Crowell looks like a better bet for tackles.

His return is questionable. Spikes forced a fumble that led to an interception on the first play of the season. He’s coming off a torn Achilles injury. Troy Vincent also left with an undisclosed injury.

He says he’ll be back in action for Week 2. Rookie Keith Ellison moved into the lineup with Spikes out for final three quarters Sunday.

"(Spikes) will be a Charger this season,” Smith said Friday. The three-year, $9 million contract Spikes signed last July was “essentially one-year guarantee,” but he’ll apparently be back at his scheduled 2012 salary of $2.875 million. Asked to play far too many snaps in 2011 (947), Spikes still graded out positively in Pro Football Focus’ rankings.