Bills LT Bell out indefinitely with knee injury

Nov 19, 2009 - 12:29 AM ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.(AP) -- Bills starting left tackle Demetrius Bell is out indefinitely with a right knee injury, opening the possibility for rookie guard Andy Levitre to start in his place against Jacksonville this weekend.

Bills interim head coach Perry Fewell on Wednesday listed Bell as week to week, which is an upgrade after the team previously feared the player's injury might be season-ending. Fewell said Bell will not require surgery after he was hurt in a 41-17 loss at Tennessee last weekend.

Levitre filled in for Bell against Tennessee, and might have to do so again on Sunday because Buffalo (3-6) is depleted at the position. Starting right tackle Jonathan Scott has been excused from practice after a death in his family, while Jamon Meredith missed last week's game with a knee injury.

Meredith practiced on Wednesday. Fewell said he had no timetable for when Scott will rejoin the team.

Levitre is a second-round draft pick who has started all nine games at left guard, but did play tackle at Oregon State.

Earlier in the day, the Bills placed starting tight end Derek Fine on injured reserve after he aggravated a knee injury last weekend. Fine becomes the 11th player - and second tight end, joining Derek Schouman - the Bills have placed on the season-ending list this season.

A second-year player, Fine had nine catches for 64 yards in eight games, including six starts.

Fine will be replaced by Joe Klopfenstein, who was signed in free agency. A 2006 second-round draft pick, Klopfenstein spent three seasons with St. Louis before being released in September. At 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds, he had 33 catches for 386 yards and two scores in 48 career games.

Receivers Roscoe Parrish and Justin Jenkins didn't practice because of the flu. Fewell said both are considered day to day.

Buffalo shuffled its practice squad by signing offensive lineman Christian Gaddis and placing receiver C.J. Hawthorne on the practice squad, injured list.