The Bills had the unlucky distinction of placing the most players on season-ending injured reserve last season—17.
Given that carnage, a superstitious person might believe the team had paid its dues and gotten the injury bug out of its system. Wrong.
As training camp wound down and coach Dick Jauron prepared his team for the regular-season kickoff Sept. 7 against Seattle, injuries had limited needed exhibition game repetitions for second-year starting quarterback Trent Edwards (thigh), rookie wide receiver James Hardy (hamstring), rookie tight end Derek Fine (thumb) and second-year tight end Derek Schouman (knee).
Compounding matters was the growing distraction and impact of Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters' contract holdout.