Edwards' strained groin prevented him from practicing Wednesday as the Bills began preparation for Sunday's game in New York against the Jets. Barring a drastic improvement in the injury and a full participation in today's workout by Edwards, it appears backup J.P. Losman will make his second straight start for the Bills against an AFC East rival.

Meanwhile, Schobel appears headed for the injured reserve list due to the ligament injury in his foot that has kept him off the field the past eight games.

Bills coach Dick Jauron stopped just short of confirming that Schobel will be put on the shelf, but he made it clear that's the likely outcome for the team's top pass rusher.

"He's seen all the specialists in the recent weeks," Jauron said. "We've done all the tests. He's tested it on the field. It just didn't really respond the way he wanted it to."

Schobel played the first five games of the season but was forced to the sidelines due to a tear in a ligament in the foot that attaches to the big toe.

Meanwhile, Losman took almost all of the snaps in practice. Third-stringer Gibran Hamdan got a few repetitions, Jauron said.

Jauron ruled out the chance that Edwards would start if he missed both the Wednesday and Thursday workouts.

"You want your starting quarterback out there getting the reps, particularly if he's not a veteran player," Jauron said. "A guy who's played in the league a long time maybe can handle the Friday practice [only] and then go into the game. But young guys, they need them all. Again, we'll see where it goes."

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The other Bills who missed practice were safety Donte Whitner (illness), receiver Josh Reed (back), defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (hip) and defensive back Dustin Fox (groin). All but Fox probably will play against the Jets. Cornerback Jabari Greer, who has missed the past three games with a sprained knee, returned to limited work. He's questionable.

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The Bills signed linebacker Vince Hall to the practice squad. He was an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech who signed with St. Louis in May. He was cut by the Rams on Aug. 2. He's 5-foot-11 and 238 pounds.

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The Jets' secondary has a different look since the Bills played New York on Nov. 2. Veteran cornerback Ty Law signed Nov. 11 and has taken over as the starter for rookie Dwight Lowery. Law started in the Jets' upset of Tennessee three weeks ago and held the starting job the following two games.

Jets receiver Brad Smith (concussion) probably is out. Receiver David Clowney, a second-year player from Virginia Tech, probably will be active in place of Smith. Several Jets starters were limited Wednesday but they are expected to play. They included defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (hip), linebackers Harris Barton (knee), Bryan Thomas (shoulder) and David Harris (groin) and receiver Laveranues Coles (hamstring).

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Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson have combined for 71 catches, tied for the NFL lead among RB duos with New Orleans' Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas. The Jets' Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have combined for 70 catches.

e-mail: mgaughan@buffnews.com