Published: August 08, 2008 12:33 am      

BILLS: Hardy to play Saturday against Washington

PITTSFORD — James Hardy isn’t just a rookie when it comes to learning routes, he’s still learning how to assess injuries.

Hardy, who has missed time at Buffalo Bills training camp with a hamstring problem, said following Thursday’s night practice at St. John Fisher he wasn’t sure he’d be in the lineup when the team takes on the Washington Redskins on Saturday in its first exhibition game.

Coach Dick Jauron said otherwise.

“He’ll play,” Jauron said of Hardy. “He practiced today and he’ll be out there.”

For Hardy, Saturday’s trip to FedEx Field offers a chance to make a significant impression on the team’s coaching staff. Josh Reed will not travel with the team with what’s being described as a lower-back injury, and Hardy will likely get a chance to work with the first unit.

During Thursday’s session before a packed house, Hardy got the ball thrown his way on the first play during 11-on-11 drills. Trent Edwards looked off his first option, found Hardy alone in the left flat and made a nice toss that the lanky receiver made a nice play on. Although there’s only limited contact, it appeared that cornerback Terrence McGee lost Hardy’s shirt when trying to catch him, and the receiver had nothing but turf in front of him.

Hardy said he was excited about the chance to play, but he knows a few practices probably aren’t enough to get acclimated to the National Football League’s pace.

“Coaches just keep telling us we have to be ready, because everything is so much faster,” Hardy said. “I’m just trying to get better every day.”

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Donte Whitner (ankle) and Angelo Crowell (groin) also missed practice Thursday and won’t make the trip.

With Whitner out, Bryan Scott was the starter at strong safety. A number of linebackers, including surprising rookie Marcus Buggs, will rotate through Crowell’s spot.

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Edwards said he expected to play between 10 and 20 plays Saturday, about the norm for a healthy starting quarterback. That means the Bills must feel comfortable with his grasp of Turk Schonert’s offense, keeping on a traditional schedule.

“Hopefully, we’ll move the ball and get some points on the board,” he said.

The second-year signal caller rarely shows much emotion in press conferences, but he got giddy when talking about the Jets’ acquisition of Brett Favre.

“I’m excited he’s still playing,” Edwards said. “I know I sound like a little kid. I get to see him in person two times this year.”

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After getting caught in a downpour Tuesday, the team cut Thursday’s session short by about 20 minutes as a front was expected to move through the area.

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QUICK HITS: Matt Baker threw a pair of nice long passes early in the session, one that was hauled in by Steve Johnson and another by C.J. Hawthorne. ... Not to be outdone, third-stringer Gibran Hamdan’s highlight of the day was a perfectly-feathered pass down the right sideline to Johnson, who made a nice catch and tip-toed the sideline. ... Jason Jefferson had a deflection on a J.P. Losman pass in 11-on-11s. Jefferson had been contained, but stuck his paw up and stuffed the pass.

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.