BILLS: Peters out for the season with groing injury

By John Wawrow

ORCHARD PARK — Bills left tackle Jason Peters will miss Buffalo’s season finale at Philadelphia on Sunday because of a groin injury that could also keep him from playing in the Pro Bowl in February.

Coach Dick Jauron said Monday that Peters will have tests this week to determine the severity of the injury suffered in the second quarter of a 38-21 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday.

“Hopefully, it’ll be OK in time and hopefully he’ll be able to participate in the Pro Bowl as a healthy tackle,” Jauron said. “I’m sure that Jason’s excited about playing in the Pro Bowl and will want to play in it. But I’m sure also he’ll do the right thing as we move along.”

Jauron said Peters had been bothered by a sore groin for several weeks before aggravating it when his right leg slid out from under him while blocking Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora. Peters lay on the field for several minutes before limping off on his own.

He watched from the sideline before being escorted to the Bills locker room with 2 minutes left in the second quarter. Without Peters, Buffalo allowed three sacks, ending a franchise record-tying string of three games without a sack.

Peters has not missed a start in 40 games since taking over at right tackle midway through the 2005 season.

The Bills (7-8), who are out of playoff contention, have a chance to finish one win better than last season.

Peters was selected to his first Pro Bowl last week, becoming the first Buffalo offensive lineman chosen since Ruben Brown in 2003, and first offensive tackle since Howard Ballard in 1993.

It was a reward for a player enjoying a breakout year as part of a revamped offensive line that’s allowed only 26 sacks this season, down from 47 last year. The line has also played a role in Marshawn Lynch reaching 1,010 yards rushing, the fifth Bills rookie to break 1,000 and first since Greg Bell did it in 1984.

Peters’ performance has been even more remarkable considering he played tight end at Arkansas before signing with the Bills as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2004. Peters was converted into an offensive lineman the following year and took over at left tackle last season.