Bills WR Parrish out 4-6 weeks with thumb injury

Sep 24, 2008 - 8:59 PM ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- Buffalo Bills wide receiver and punt returner Roscoe Parrish will miss the next four to six weeks with a thumb injury, the team announced Wednesday.

Parrish suffered the injury during Sunday's 23-21 comeback victory over the Oakland Raiders and had surgery on the thumb two days later.

"Roscoe, we anticipate, will be out for a good while," Bills coach Dick Jauron said. "We're hoping four to six weeks in that range. That obviously sets us back a little bit. But it's probably as good as the news could be when we first heard about the injury."

Despite the injury, Parrish made a touchdown reception with four minutes left in regulation Sunday, which brought Buffalo within two points.

Parrish has been a factor in the Bills' undefeated start, making seven catches for 60 yards and a score over the first three games. He also had a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in the season opener.

"Somebody is going to have to step up. Roscoe has played awful well," Jauron said. "Obviously, when somebody goes down everybody slides up. So we're counting on them all to contribute."

Rookie James Hardy and Justin Jenkins are the primary candidates to replace Parrish in the slot. Rookie Leodis McKelvin is expected to take over his punt return duties.