Bills S Whitner has separated shoulder

Nov 3, 2008 - 7:41 PM ORCHARD PARK, New York (Ticker) -- The Buffalo Bills could be without safety Donte Whitner when they face the rival New England Patriots.

Whitner has a separated shoulder and is unlikely to play in next Sunday's pivotal game at New England, Bills head coach Dick Jauron said Monday.

The eighth overall draft selection in 2006, Whitner suffered the injury in Sunday's 26-17 loss to the New York Jets.

"Donte didn't finish the game," Jauron said. "That's a shoulder issue and we're going to kind of take that (the injury) week-to-week as opposed to day-to-day. It was fairly significant."

Jauron admitted he was uncertain if Whitner would need surgery. Jauron also did not disclose Whitner's status for next weekend.

"We won't rule anybody out until we have to," Jauron said. "We're talking week-to-week, and this is a week. This is our first week."

Whitner, 23, has 37 tackles and one sack this season for the Bills (5-3), who are tied with the Patriots and Jets atop the AFC East Division.