The Bills will have one of the highest picks in next April's NFL Draft and general manager Buddy Nix is already researching. Nix flew to Northern California last week and spent a day at Stanford looking at quarterback Andrew Luck, who could be the No. 1 pick if he turns pro after the season.

The Bills have placed linebacker Shawne Merriman on the injured reserve because of a nagging Achilles tendon injury. Merriman didn't play a game for the Bills this season. Buffalo claimed him off waivers from San Diego earlier this month after the Chargers placed him on the injured reserve with a calf injury.

Shawne Merriman is expected to miss a third straight week of practice, and there are concerns of whether the former star linebacker will suit up for the Bills at all this season. Buffalo coach Chan Gailey expressed that concern Monday in all but formally ruling out Merriman from playing Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Bills rookie running back C.J. Spiller apologized on Thursday for using a gay slur on his Twitter page. Spiller used the term Wednesday while exchanging tweets with former Clemson teammate and Eagles defensive end Ricky Sapp. "Me and Ricky are best friends and we always joke around on there, but I shouldn't have said what I said. If anybody knew how me and Ricky play around on Twitter, pretty much knows that we were just joking and didn't mean any harm. I apologize for the situation," Spiller said. The original tweet has been deleted.

Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens isn't surprised that Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting for the Bills. Owens was a teammate of Fitzpatrick's in Buffalo last season. The receiver called that move only "a matter of time" during a conference call with Buffalo reporters Wednesday.

Bills linebacker Shawne Merriman tweaked the Achilles' tendon in his right leg in his first practice with the team and didn't face the Lions on Sunday. John Czarnecki of FOX Sports writes that Merriman may not make his Buffalo debut for weeks.

The Bills defeated the Lions 14-12 on Sunday to earn their first victory of the season. Detroit also lost their NFL-record 25th straight road game in the process. Fred Jackson ran for a season-best 133 yards and scored twice as Buffalo finally got into the win column.

Bills kicker Rian Lindell missed an extra point attempt against the Bears on Sunday that ended his streak of extra points at 321. The streak was the fourth longest in NFL history. Lindell's attempt following Fred Jackson's 4-yard touchdown in the third quarter Sunday was blocked by the Bears' Israel Idonije. Matt Stover has the record with 422 consecutive extra points from 1996-2009.

Although he said all the right things upon his arrival in Buffalo, linebacker Shawne Merriman is highly unlikely to re-sign with the team this offseason. John Czarnecki of FOX Sports writes that, "Merriman wasn't happy about being claimed off waivers. Merriman, who is in the last year of his contract, definitely won't be re-signing with the Bills, who are clearly in need of outside linebackers."

Shawne Merriman has joined the Bills, but his debut with the team will have to wait. It remains to be seen if the linebacker will face the Lions next weekend, but he will begin practicing with his new team on Monday. "They have high expectations for me to come in and make some things happen, and I'm going to do that," Merriman said. "I've been working out and I'm just ready to get on the field as soon as possible. Whatever they need me to do, I'm here to work and kind of be a piece of the puzzle."