The Jets signed S J.R. Reed, who was released by Philadelphia in October. Reed could become the latest nickel back to cover the slot receiver, a role that both David Barrett and Drew Coleman have struggled at.

Veteran QB Brett Favre is having trouble completing deep passes, partly because he has been inaccurate, and partly because his wideouts can't get enough separation. David Clowney, who was a revelation during the preseason before suffering a fractured clavicle, is healthy now but has yet to appear in a game. He is the fastest wide receiver on the squad and might get a chance this week because Brad Smith is banged-up.

PLAYER NOTES

--S J.R. Reed, released by Philadelphia in October, was signed. Reed could become the latest nickel back to cover the slot receiver for the Jets. Nobody has adequately filled that role for New York in 2008.

--TE Bubba Franks (hip) is off the injury report. He hasn't played since being injured at Oakland on Oct. 19. If he ever returns to the lineup, the Jets would no longer have to use linemen Robert Turner and Wayne Hunter as extra tight ends so frequently.

--SS Eric Smith {lingering effects from concussion) is off the injury report and could play against the Bills. He has missed the last six games.

--WR Jerricho Cotchery has been playing through a shoulder injury the past few weeks, yet still has 32 catches over the last seven games, although he was limited to one reception against San Francisco.

-- WR Brad Smith (concussion) didn't practice again Friday and isn't expected to play against the Bills. He is listed as doubtful.

GAME PLAN: QB Brett Favre must find wide receivers Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery and tight end Dustin Keller, something that didn't happen often against San Francisco, when they totaled four catches. The Jets need to again run the ball effectively with Thomas Jones, who has scored at least one touchdown in each of the last seven games. The defense wants to play as well as it did in the first meeting with the Bills, when the Jets had five sacks. The Jets need to again get pressure on the quarterback, which likely will be J.P. Losman, who started in place of banged-up Trent Edwards (groin) in the loss to Miami and didn't get the Bills into the end zone.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Jets CB Darrelle Revis vs. Bills WR Lee Evans. Evans burned the Jets for a long touchdown catch in two of their last four meetings, and has 52 receptions for an average of 17.6 yards this season. Revis had good coverage on Evans' 85-yard score last year, but SS Abram Elam inadvertently hit Revis while trying to jar the ball loose from Evans. However, both of Evans' aforementioned long TD catches came from J.P. Losman, who is no longer the starter.

Jets NT Kris Jenkins vs. Bills C Duke Preston. Jenkins dominated the Bills in the first meeting between the teams, notching 1.5 sacks and pressuring Trent Edwards into an ill-advised throw that was picked off by Abram Elam for a 92-yard touchdown. Jenkins is coming off two of his quieter games this season, so he will be quite motivated. Preston will need help from others to take on Jenkins.

Jets WR Jerricho Cotchery vs. Bills CB Jabari Greer. Cotchery was unable to get open very often against San Francisco, when he was held to only one reception. Greer has been a thorn in the Jets' side the last two seasons. Greer's interception off Chad Pennington set up a Buffalo TD in the first meeting between the teams in 2007, giving the Bills a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, and he took another pick off Brett Favre 42 yards for a TD last month.

INJURY IMPACT: WR Brad Smith (head) didn't practice Thursday. If he sits out Sunday, David Clowney likely will be active for the first time this season. Clowney is the Jets' fastest wideout and could give the offense the downfield dimension that has been missing.

LB David Harris (groin surgery) returned against San Francisco and picked up where he left off, with 13 tackles. With Harris back, savvy veteran David Bowens, who started five games in place of Harris, could be used more in the role of a situational pass rusher.

SS Eric Smith, who left the game against Kansas City on Oct. 26 with some apparent post-concussion problems, has missed six games but now is off the injury report. At first, there seemed to be no real dropoff to backup Abram Elam, but Elam allowed two touchdown passes against Denver and teams are exploiting him downfield, although he played OK against San Francisco. Smith is solid in coverage for the most part.

Backup TE Bubba Franks (hip) is off the injury report but still hasn't played since Oct. 19. Without Franks, the Jets have been using offensive linemen as extra tight ends in running situations, because rookie Dustin Keller's blocking still is suspect, although he is improving in that area. Franks' absence from the game-day roster is now a coaching decision, so it's fair to wonder if he'll see the field again this season.

But if Franks returns, the Jets won't have to telegraph their intention to run so often by putting lumbering linemen in as extra tight ends.