ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Before many people were finished sipping their morning coffee Monday, a report surfaced about how Bills top receiver Sammy Watkins would likely miss Thursday night’s home game against the Jets because of a foot injury and that the Bills were so concerned they feared he might be done for the season.
By early afternoon, Bills coach Rex Ryan spoke to reporters and strongly refuted the story. And by late afternoon after the Bills finished their walk-through practice and Watkins spoke to reporters, the report had zero merit to it.
“I’m definitely going to play,’’ Watkins said. “I’m doing fine. I’m definitely going to be out there playing. I was just was sore after the game. That’s expected. I’m getting prepared for (the Jets) this week.’’
Watkins called the reports of his foot discomfort “very inaccurate.’’
“I feel great; I’m not in any pain,’’ he said. “It’s not about the pain. It’s about just being smart. I got it checked out and it was fine. After the game, playing at a high intensity and making so many cuts and not thinking about your foot or anything you felt ‘Oh, whoa,’ (and) you get it checked.
“I felt like it was tired. I just wanted to make sure, and it’s fine.’’
Earlier, Ryan said, “I’m confident he’s going to be OK.’’
After suffering a stress fracture on his left foot in the spring, Watkins had two screws inserted to stabilize it. He was cleared by doctors to return to practice on Aug. 8, played in the Bills’ final two preseason games and caught four passes for 43 yards in Buffalo’s 13-7 season-opener loss to the Ravens in Baltimore.
“Sammy came up after the game and talked to trainers and complained of his foot being sore,’’ Ryan said. “So we’ll see how he progresses though the week on that. He’s sore, that’s what it is. Hopefully he’ll progress through the week and he’ll be ready to roll.’’
When asked, as a report stated earlier Monday, if there was any thought or concern of “shutting’’ Watkins down for an extended period of time, Ryan said, “That’s not what we’re thinking right now.’’
Watkins shot down any notion that there has been gamesmanship taking place to throw off the Jets, saying, “We’re not trying to play tricks or trick anyone. I look forward to competing against (Jets cornerback Darrelle) Revis every year.’’
If Watkins is hobbled even a little bit Thursday night it would be welcome news to the Jets and particularly Revis, against whom Watkins caught 11 passes for 136 yards in the season finale last year.
“You’ve got to be prepared against him,’’ Watkins said. “He’s a savvy guy, a veteran who knows concepts and routes, so you’ve just got to run your routes and don’t let him dictate.’’
Revis is coming off one of his worst career performances in Sunday’s Jets season opener against the Bengals, when he was a part of allowing Cincinnati’s A.J. Green to catch 12 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown.
Ryan, who coached Revis with the Jets, expressed shock at what happened to Revis on Sunday, and he was quick to say he thought it was an aberration.
“You don’t see that out of (Revis),’’ Ryan said. “You can count on one hand for sure how many times that’s happened to Revis. I remember (former Bills receiver) Stevie Johnson had a big day on Revis. That Green kid is a pretty talented receiver. I’ve been in the game for a long time and I’ve seen some great ones have a bad day.’’