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PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Quarterback Trent Edwards has a swollen bruise above his right kneecap, which forced him to miss practice Wednesday, a day after the Buffalo Bills starter knocked knees in a collision with running back Marshawn Lynch.
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Walking with a noticeable limp, Edwards was relieved the injury to his lower right quadriceps wasn't as severe as he initially feared, but added he's not sure whether he'll play in Buffalo's third preseason game at Indianapolis on Sunday.
"Honestly, right now, I'm just kind of taking it on a day-by-day basis," Edwards said after the Bills held their final training camp session of the summer in suburban Rochester. "Sunday's still a long way away."
Except for the swelling, Edwards said he has been informed there is nothing structurally wrong with his leg or knee.
It's a relief for Edwards after he went down early in practice Tuesday, shortly after handing the ball off to Lynch. Edwards lay on the field for about 5 minutes and got up limping before making his way to the trainer's room.
"It was scary," Edwards said, noting that the collision was so forceful that it initially felt as if Lynch had kicked him. "It's disappointing, but I'm glad it happened during preseason than during the regular season."
Lynch complained of soreness in his knee after practice, but was back on the field Wednesday after being cleared by the training staff.
Coach Dick Jauron described Edwards' injury as "a significant bruise," and noted the quarterback's return will depend on how quickly the swelling and pain subside.
"If you had your druthers, you would have him play in the game, so we're hopeful that he can play," Jauron said, referring to Edwards' status for Sunday.
The injury is a setback for Edwards, the 2007 third-round pick out of Stanford, who took over the starting job from J.P. Losman midway through last season. And it comes at a time when the Bills offense was beginning to discover a sense of rhythm. Edwards went 9-for-11 for 104 yards and two touchdowns during a two-series appearance in a 24-21 win over Pittsburgh last week.
If Edwards can't play, the focus shifts to Losman, who has acknowledged he has lacked focus and motivation after the Bills failed to grant his request to be traded this offseason.
Losman, though, said he has put his hard feelings aside and is ready to step in for as long as Edwards is hurt.
"I had a chance to digest everything that happened in that situation in the offseason, and right now I am strictly focused on being ready," said Losman, the second of Buffalo's two 2004 first-round draft picks who has twice in three years lost the starting job.
"We have a team here and we are all grown men, and you have to handle the situation the way it is, like grown men."
Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert said he's confident the offense can move forward with Losman, but acknowledged he was concerned about the backup's attitude at the start of training camp.
"He wasn't 100 percent there mentally all the time. But he got into it. He got better and got better and got better," Schonert said. "Hopefully, (Edwards' injury) will show him what we've been telling him, 'Hey, you're one snap away, and you've got to be ready.'"
Edwards' injury re-emphasized the Bills' decision to keep Losman for his experience and knowledge of the offensive system. Losman has 31 career starts and last season went 2-4 in seven starts and contributed to a victory as a backup.
"Most teams are going to play two quarterbacks and need two quarterbacks every year ... because it is a very tough position to play," Jauron said. "So yes, you definitely want guys that you know can come in and win games."