By Tim Graham
The injury news continued to get better for the Buffalo Bills today -- but with an asterisk for now.
After coach Chan Gailey announced everybody is expected to play in Sunday's opener at the Meadowlands, the New York Jets revealed two of their defensive players have been ruled out.
Jets head coach Rex Ryan announced nose tackle Sione Pouha, one of the NFL's top run-stuffing linemen, and hard-hitting safety Eric Smith won't play.
Pouha, however, was officially listed as questionable on the Jets' injury report. The NFL defines "questionable" as a 50-50 chance someone will play.
I've contacted the Jets and the league office to clear up the confusion but have yet to get a response.
One of the more intriguing matchups in the game would pit Bills center Eric Wood head-to-head with Pouha, who has a lower-back problem. Wood has been ramping up from a knee injury, and not having Pouha to tangle with might help him get through a full game better.
Readers of the Press Coverage blog apparently won't be too busted up about not seeing Wood and Pouha get after it. In a poll, only 1 percent of voters picked that battle as the one they were most looking forward to.
Smith, in the safety rotation and big special-teams contributor, is out with knee and hip injuries.
The Jets' injury report has 16 names on it today. Also out is backup tackle Dennis Landolt (knee).
Tight end Dustin Keller (hamstring) and defensive tackle Mike Devito (calf) are listed as questionable. Both are expected to play.
