ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Fred Jackson's season is over after the Bills placed him on injured reserve with a leg injury he suffered in Buffalo's 35-8 loss to the Dolphins this past Sunday.
Through Buffalo's first ten games, Jackson was hands down the team's best performer, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and nearly eclipsing 1,000 yards (he finishes with 934). Jackson rushed for six touchdowns and was also one of the team's most dependable pass catchers with 39 catches for 442 yards.
Jackson published the following tweets to his Twitter account on Wednesday evening.
"Thanks #BillsMafia for all the support! I need everyone of u to continue to support my teammates the way u have all season! Still a lot of football to be played! This is jus a small bump in the road for me! Lookin 4ward to comin back and finishin the rest of my career in Buff."
CJ Spiller will take Jackson's place at running back, and if ever there was a time when Buffalo's top pick from a year ago needed a breakout performance, this is it.
"It will be his opportunity," Gailey said. "We've had a lot of guys that have taken opportunities and done well with them and we expect that from him."
Spiller hadn't been told of the news until reporters asked him about starting on Wednesday. He made an interesting comparison when asked about filling Jackson's shoes.
"These are some blue whale shoes. They aren't big shoes, they're blue whales."
While whales may not have feet, you get the idea. Spiller gets his first start since Buffalo's season opener against the Dolphins last year.
"You're excited, but at the same time, sad," Spiller said. "The great, great player on this team is out. I've got to step up. I've learned so much (from Jackson), I have to take what I've learned an apply it to the game now."
In his season and a half with the Bills, Spiller has come dangerously close to being labeled the latest bust in Bills draft history. The Bills drafted him out of Clemson after a career where he had 21 touchdown plays of 50 yards or more. Since joining the Bills, Spiller's longest play has been for 26 yards.
"I've got to elevate my game. I have to play close to a level that Fred was playing at."
