Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins expected to play Thursday night

It’s a short week and he’s listed as questionable, but signs point to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins playing Thursday night.

Offseason foot surgery created some initial doubt about Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver Sammy Watkins being ready for Week 1. He made excellent progress and played in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, but Watkins’ numbers (four catches for 43 yards) were emblematic of a poor offensive showing for the Bills.

A report from Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News Monday morning suggested Watkins could be shut down for several weeks, due to “severe discomfort” in his surgically repaired left foot. The opposite was reported quickly after that, and Bills’ head coach Rex Ryan refuted the initial report of a shutdown himself. But there’s clearly doubt about Watkins’ status for Thursday night against the New York Jets.

Not surprisingly, Watkins was officially listed as questionable on Wednesday. Thursday morning, some tentative good news came out.

When inactives are announced closer to kickoff Thursday night, Watkins’ status will become officially clear. Even with the real potential for a limited snap count, he seems to be on the positive side of the questionable tag and it would be a surprise if he’s not in uniform.

Related Story: Jets at Bills: Game preview, odds, prediction

After last week’s dismal offensive performance, which included just 111 passing yards from Tyrod Taylor, the Bills clearly need Watkins on the field in whatever capacity he can be. A matchup with Jets’ cornerback Darrelle Revis looks better than it ever has right now, as Watkins torched “Revis Island” for 11 receptions and 136 yards in Week 17 last season.

Thursday night’s game looks crucial for both teams, with a tough upcoming schedule for the Jets and Ryan firmly on the hot seat in Buffalo. Having Watkins available will help the Bills’ cause, even with his foot likely to be a lingering issue until further notice.