Fred Jackson Ruled Out With Calf Injury

Added on Nov 23, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

The floundering Buffalo Bills just can’t seem to catch a break. Do-all running back Fred Jackson will miss Sunday’s divisional matchup with the Jets with a strained right calf, leaving his availability for the remainder of the season in doubt. Losers of three straight, the Bills can ill afford to take another step back in a crowded AFC playoff race.

Jackson is enjoying a career season with 1,376 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns in ten games. His 934 rushing yards ranks third in the league behind only LeSean McCoy and Maurice Jones-Drew, and his 39 receptions ranks fifth among all running backs.

The 30-year-old has been of the league’s most underrated backs for the last three years. Most runners begin to slow down in their late 20s, but Jackson has flipped the script and hit his stride. Playing for a new contract, he has more than earned a longterm deal.

Hailing from tiny Coe College, Jackson went undrafted in 2003 and bounced around the indoor football league and NFL Europe for three years before being signed by the Bills in 2006. He made his first start in 2007 and hasn’t looked back, outperforming first-round picks Marshawn Lynch and C.J. Spiller in the process.

Removing Jackson from the Bills attack could prove devastating. After scoring 30-plus points in four of their first six games, the offense has nosedived in November, being outscored 106-26 during the three-game losing streak.

Many of their woes can be attributed to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has thrown eight interceptions against four touchdowns since Week 8. After inking a 6-year, $60 million deal in late October, Fitzpatrick has struggled to find a consistent rhythm. His limitations have been exposed and despite Jackson’s efforts, the Bills have failed to equal their early season success.

With Jackson sidelined, most of the running back duties will fall to C.J. Spiller. The ninth overall pick in the 2010 draft has only 36 touches for 197 yards and one touchdown thus far.

Source: ESPN.com