By Tim Graham
We might never know how Buffalo Bills safety Jairus Byrd hurt his ankle -- or if the injury was to his ankle at all.
But Byrd's problem got better today, and the Bills are much more hopeful he'll play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
"It's something that's there, but hopefully as things progress I'll be able to go Sunday," Byrd said. "If it's up to me, I'm always going to be out there. So I'm just going to see how it goes, and hopefully it continues to get better."
When asked how he got hurt, Byrd sheepishly said it was "a little foot miscue, I guess." His injury is listed as an ankle on the official injury report. He was seen in a walking boot Monday.
Byrd did reveal the injury occurred "before the game." Yet he played all 75 of the Bills' defensive snaps, tied for the team lead with seven tackles and ended the game with a deft interception in which he barely tapped his feet inbounds.
Did it happen during warmups?
"Yeah, something like that," Byrd said with a grin. "I'll leave it like that, but it was before the game."
Was it before warmups?
"Something like that, yeah, yeah," Byrd said.
Also on the injury front, Bills coach Chan Gailey ruled receiver Ruvell Martin out for Sunday's game. Bills linebacker Nick Barnett was limited in practice with a knee problem, but Gailey said he expected Barnett to practice fully Friday.
For the Browns, tight end Alex Smith (head) and linebacker James-Michael Johnson (ribs, oblique) did not practice. Receiver and return man Joshua Cribbs (knee), defensive end Juqua Parker (foot) and defensive back Raymond Ventrone (hand) were limited.
