Kraig

Urbik

It sounds like a sprained MCL. Chad Rinehart stepped in for Urbik against the Raiders, and presented no obvious drop-off. The Bills have done an impressive job of keeping Ryan Fitzpatrick upright so far despite their weak O-Line talent.

The Bills can now match any offer Rinehart or Urbik receive on the open market, and will receive draft-pick compensation if they choose not to do so. Urbik made 13 starts at right guard in 2011, while Rinehart appeared in all 16 games in a swing role, making 12 starts.

Urbik, 26, made 13 starts last season, opening the year at right guard before kicking inside to replace injured C Eric Wood. Pro Football Focus graded Urbik as a terrific interior pass blocker, but he’ll have to improve immensely as a run blocker in order to keep his job. Urbik is more of a swingman type.

Levitre is a natural guard that has also played tackle for the injury-ravaged Bills. But trying to fill in at center yesterday proved to be too tall of a task. He struggled so badly with shotgun snaps that Kraig Urbik had to come on at center and kick Levitre back to left guard. That’s the likely alignment going forward.

The plan is to move forward with Colin Brown to finish the season. Demetrius Bell and TE Mike Caussin also suffered knee injuries and are not expected to play in next week’s game. Rookie Chris Hairston is in line for his seventh start at left tackle in place of Bell.

Both are expected to be tendered qualifying offers, but it would make sense for the Bills to lock them up heading into their age-27 seasons. Urbik was Buffalo’s starting right guard in 2011, while Rinehart served in a swing role. Both graded out as top-20 guards by Pro Football Focus.

Urbik earned the starting job at right guard this year after initially being picked up off waivers from the Steelers last season. Rinehart made 12 starts filling in as a ''swingman’’ and is capable of starting on the interior line.

Byrd is entering the final year of his rookie deal, where he’ll earn just $615,000. Nix also hopes to lock up LG Andy Levitre and G/C Kraig Urbik. “We definitely want those guys back,” Nix said. “I think they want to be back and we want them back and when the time comes we’ll get started on it.” Deemed the Bills’ “best defensive player” in 2011 by respected beat writer Joe Buscaglia, Byrd graded out as Pro Football Focus’ third best safety in the league.

Buffalo has experienced and largely capable replacements in Chad Rinehart and Chris Hairston, although they now are starved for depth and might not be able to withstand another O-Line injury. Glenn, in particular, had been playing extremely well as a rookie on Ryan Fitzpatrick’s blind side. The losses won’t make life easy in the Bills’ defense in Week 5 against the 49ers.

The Bills offensive line has been just ravaged with injuries this season. They’re now extremely thin at right guard with Urbik’s replacement Colin Brown on I.R., and Rinehart also dealing with a calf injury. The Bills did sign veteran G/T Reggie Wells, who has not played an offensive snap since Week 17 of 2010. The situation is a concern for Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller owners.