Published: August 18, 2008 12:11 am      

BILLS NOTES: Schouman could miss several weeks

PITTSFORD — The likelihood that Robert Royal will hold on to starting tight end job increased Sunday when Bills coach Dick Jauron revealed Derek Schouman could miss up to several weeks after hurting his knee Thursday in Buffalo’s 24-21 preseason win over Pittsburgh.

“Derek’s going to be a little while, we’re hoping not a long while,” Jauron said following the team’s first practice since the game in Toronto. “At this point, (trainer) Bud (Carpenter) is talking in the weeks. So it’s not good, but it could have been worse.” Jauron called the injury a knee strain.

James Hardy also missed Sunday’s practice because of a sore hamstring that Jauron said also affected the rookie receiver against Pittsburgh. Jauron expects Hardy to return within a couple days.

While Hardy sat out, Josh Reed took his place in the starting lineup, returning to practice after he missed nearly two weeks with a back strain.

Donte Whitner also missed practice, for personal reasons Jauron did not elaborate on, and Kenard Cox sat out because of a sore ankle.

Matt Murphy again watched practice with his left arm in a sling while he decides whether to have surgery to repair a partially torn rotator cuff. Jauron was optimistic that the reserve tackle could return in time for the regular season, if he decides against surgery.

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ASHTON GOT PUNK’D: Pittsburgh’s Santonio Holmes found himself exceptionally open on a 40-yard touchdown grab in Thursday’s preseason game, and some viewers didn’t know which Buffalo defender to blame.

Ashton Youboty was covering his former Ohio State teammate when the play started, and George Wilson was closest to Holmes in the end zone. It seemed as though the Bills might’ve been in a Cover-2 zone that would’ve called for Youboty to abandon the receiver if he went deep, and trust that a safety would prevent a long pass.

Apparently, the coverage breakdown was Youboty’s fault, according to his position coach, George Catavolos.

“That’s mostly his responsibility,” Catavolos said Sunday. “He was guessing on it, instead of playing his normal technique. That usually does not happen to him.”

Youboty, a former third-round pick entering his third season, was making a strong case to be included on the final roster prior to that play, notably intercepting a pass in the preseason opener against Washington.

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LEGEND VISITS: Hall of Famer Jim Kelly made a rare training camp appearance, entertaining a young girl and her mother from Rochester, winners of a promotion sponsored by Budweiser.

Kelly also arrived with Robert Bartosiewicz, owner of the Rochester Raiders, an American Indoor Football League franchise. Bartosiewicz reportedly will be the majority owner of arenafootball2 (correct) team in Buffalo that Kelly and former teammate Thurman Thomas will hold minority stakes in.

Kelly declined to answer questions from an Associated Press reporter about his recent suggestion that the Bills build a new stadium in Niagara Falls.

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ENCORE: Sunday’s practice resembled Thursday’s preseason win in a couple ways: Trent Edwards looked sharp at the start, and Leodis McKelvin provided the highlight of the night.

Edwards hit Lee Evans on a quick timing throw then found Josh Reed for a long gain. McKelvin, who scored on a 95-yard kick return in Toronto, had his first interception of training camp Sunday, nabbing a J.P. Losman pass near the sideline and racing toward the end zone.

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QUICK HITS: Marshawn Lynch was used frequently in 7-on-7 passing drills. ... Kawika Mitchell charged in for a would-be sack. ... Reserve quarterback Matt Baker got more work than usual. ... Terrence McGee wore a 10-pound vest over his jersey at the morning walk-through.

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2261.