Bills hope to run McCoy in playoffs
Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott says medical test results on LeSean McCoy’s injured right ankle were negative, giving the running back a chance to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC wild card game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla.
McDermott would not go into detail except to say the team received “some good news” yesterday, a day after McCoy was hurt in a 22-16 win at Miami. The victory combined with Baltimore’s 31-27 loss to Cincinnati clinched Buffalo its first playoff berth since the 1999 season, and ended the longest active postseason drought in North America’s four major professional sports.
McCoy was hurt and carted off the field after a 3-yard run on Buffalo’s first possession of the third quarter.
The ninth-year player leads Buffalo with 1,138 yards rushing, 59 catches and eight touchdowns, including two receiving. Overall, his 1,586 yards from scrimmage account for 33 percent of the Bills’ total.
Buffalo also lacks depth at the position a week after backup Travaris Cadet broke his ankle during a loss to the Patriots in Foxboro.
Panthers optimistic
Carolina coach Ron Rivera said he’s optimistic that safety Kurt Coleman (ankle) and running back Jonathan Stewart (stiff back) should be back in the lineup for the Panthers’ wild card game Sunday at New Orleans. Also, guard Trai Turner could return if he clears the NFL concussion protocol. Turner has missed the last three games. The Panthers were swept by the Saints in the regular season
Chiefs’ Hill will be back
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said dynamic wide receiver Tyreek Hill will practice when the Chiefs, who host the Titans on Saturday, begin their game-week preparations today. Hill had left the team last week following a death in the family . . . .
Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake apologized and exhibited remorse for throwing a helmet and being ejected after a fight in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Bills. But Drake also seemed to say he’d do the same thing again if receiver Jarvis Landry was threatened by players from the opposing team.
Drake’s ejection happened after he threw the helmet of Bills defensive end Ryan Davis about 20 yards downfield . . . .
Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees, 68, announced his retirement following a successful NFL career that began with the Patriots. Pees served as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator for six years.