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C.J. Spiller Injury: Updates on Bills Star's Collarbone and Return
October 19, 2014
C.J. Spiller injured his collarbone in October, an injury that required surgery and a trip to injured reserve with a designation to return.
The Bills still haven't given up on a possible return from the running back this season. Spiller was able to return to the practice field prior to Week 14 and will be added to the active roster for Week 16. He's listed as active for Sunday's game.
Continue for updates.
Sunday, Dec. 21
Spiller Active vs. Raiders
Adam Caplan of ESPN confirmed that C.J. Spiller is active for Week 16 vs. Oakland:
Friday, Dec. 19
Spiller Probable vs. Raiders
Joe Buscaglia of WGR has the official release:
Matthew Fairborn of the Syracuse Post-Standard has an update on Spiller's status:
Monday, Dec. 15
Spiller To Return to Active Roster
Doug Marrone confirmed that C.J. Spiller will return to the Bills' active roster after injuring his collarbone in October, via the Bills:
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Spiller Returns to Practice Field
Matthew Fairburn of Syracuse.com reported that Spiller returned to practice Wednesday:
The Bills took to Twitter to post a video of their running back at practice:
Spiller commented on how he felt after practice:
Monday, Dec. 1
Bills Still Hoping Spiller Can Return
Around the NFL provided the latest on C.J. Spiller's recovery and return:
Tuesday, Nov. 4
Spiller Speaks on Recovery
Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com provides a statement from C.J. Spiller discussing his recovery and potential return this season:
'You’re a competitor. You want to be out there. You want to be out there to help your team win,' said Spiller in the Bills locker room Monday. 'This is the most I’ve ever missed in my playing career since I’ve been playing this game, which is going on 21 years now. So it really sucks, but I’ve still got a good positive outlook on it. I’m doing everything I can to make sure the guys are prepared on Sundays. I’m still watching film, looking over the game plan so I can stay in touch with everything so it’s not a foreign language when I return. Hopefully come playoff time I’ll be ready.'
Spiller was reluctant to weigh the chances of him returning before the end of the regular season.
'I don’t want to put a percentage on it. I’m just taking it one day at a time,' he said. 'Everything is looking good and feeling good. So rehab is going really well, so I don’t want to put the chance of anything on it. If I’m good to go I’ll go.'
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Spiller Placed on Injured Reserve
The Bills announced an update on Spiller on Tuesday:
The Buffalo Bills also announced that the team has placed RB C.J. Spiller on the Reserve/Injured, Designated for Return list.
Adam Caplan of ESPN provides some context on Spiller's timeline after the move:
Spiller took to Twitter to talk to fans post-surgery:
Monday, Oct. 20
Spiller Has Surgery on Collarbone
The Bills provided a statement from head coach Doug Marrone discussing CJ Spillers' injury and recovery:
Sunday, Oct. 19
Spiller Injures Collarbone
For C.J. Spiller, injuries are starting to become a theme.
Last season, Spiller missed just one game but spent most of the year battling a high-ankle sprain that limited his explosiveness. Now, he's back on the injury report after suffering a broken collarbone in Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings.
Mike Rodak of ESPN provides injury details:
After being carted off in the first half, running back C.J. Spiller has a broken collarbone, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported. He will have surgery Monday, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan. Coach Doug Marrone said Spiller will be out "an undetermined time." He added that Fred Jackson, who was carted off with a groin injury, will need further tests.
Pro Football Talk reveals a more definitive report on Spiller's chances of returning this season:
The Buffalo Bills initially provided details on the injury:
CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora revealed the diagnosis is not good:
This comes on the heels of Fred Jackson being carted off in the same game with a groin injury, as the Bills indicated:
Spiller's career has certainly been a roller-coaster ride. In his first two seasons, he accumulated just 1,270 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns, hardly the level of production the Buffalo Bills thought they would get from the No. 9 pick in the 2010 draft.
But in 2012, he appeared to have his breakthrough. He finished with 1,703 yards from scrimmage, eight touchdowns and a whopping 6.0 yards per carry. Finally, Spiller was living up to his hype as a game-changing, big-play running back.
He took a step back in 2013, however. Hampered by that ankle injury, he limped his way to 1,118 yards from scrimmage and just two touchdowns, while his backfield mate, Jackson, finished with 1,277 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. After seizing top billing in 2012, Spiller came into 2014 knowing that he would have to split touches with Jackson.
Once again, the team will be left wondering how much more production it'll get from Spiller this season. The Bills will need to utilize Anthony Dixon while their starters are sidelined.
Despite the injures, Spiller still is one of the more dangerous running backs in the NFL, and his big-play ability is tough to replicate. For defenses, having to deal with both Spiller and Jackson—and for Buffalo, keeping both fresh by having them share touches—has certainly benefited the Bills this season. And let's not forget that Spiller is also a very good kick returner when called upon to fill that role.
The Bills will certainly be hoping he can return sooner rather than later. When Spiller is on his game, the Bills are simply a far better football team.
