J.P. Losman was unable to practice on Tuesday night because of an ailing right thumb.
He might be glad.
Sloppy would have been an accurate way to describe the first of seven night practices of training camp for the Buffalo Bills at St. John Fisher College.
Losman struck his hand on a helmet during practice Monday, coach Dick Jauron said, and was unable to throw effectively and without discomfort.
His hand was wrapped as he stood on the field at Growney Stadium and watched his teammates practice.
"We may keep him out another day,"
Jauron said.
The overflow crowd of more than 3,000 fans saw a not-so-sharp performance, especially in red-zone situations.
Three consecutive passes were dropped — the first by running back Marshawn Lynch on a throw from Trent Edwards, the second by cornerback Terrance McGee after miscommunication between Edwards and wideout Justin Jenkins, and the third by Fred Jackson on a Gibran Hamdan throw.
Edwards said the newness of some plays, plus unfamiliarity with night practice and the full stadium, contributed to the sloppiness.
"We just put in some plays a couple hours before practice,"
he said. "There were a lot of Bills fans out here and that's great, but we're not used to it."
Safety Ko Simpson left the drills midway through practice after jamming his ankle. The injury isn't believed to be serious.
Linebacker Angelo Crowell sat out because of what Jauron said was a sore knee.
