LeSean McCoy Injury: Updates on Bills Star's Hamstring and Return

For the most part, Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy has been a pillar of consistency in terms of health over his NFL career. However, McCoy has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury that impacted his ability to practice earlier in the week but did not stop him from being ready to go for Week 3.

The Bills confirmed McCoy is active for the team's AFC East showdown against the Miami Dolphins after being listed as probable for the contest.

The Buffalo Bills bet big on the 27-year-old in the offseason. First, they acquired him from the Philadelphia Eagles for Kiko Alonso. Then they handed McCoy a five-year extension worth a little over $45 million, which isn't an insignificant amount of money in an era when teams seemingly unearth talented running backs later and later in the NFL draft.

While McCoy has been healthy and productive for almost the entirety of his time in the league, you wondered whether his versatility would begin to hurt him as he reached his late 20s. Running backs have short shelf lives in the NFL, and that's especially true of a running back who averaged 243.5 carries and 50 receptions a year between 2009 and 2014.

Plus, a Rex Ryan offense depends on a lot of inside running, which only opens up McCoy to take more hits in 2015.

Because the Bills have built so much of their offense around McCoy, replacing him wouldn't be easy. Karlos Williams and Boobie Dixon are the next in line, and neither player is anywhere near the proven runner McCoy is.

Especially with a first-year starter at quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo will need to manage McCoy to ensure he's at his best against the Dolphins.