By Jonah Bronstein<br><a href="mailto:bronsteinj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Jonah</a>
PITTSFORD — National Football League depth charts don’t reserve space for gunners.
If Justin Jenkins makes the Bills’ final roster — which, after three weeks of training camp and two preseason games, seems likely — it will have plenty to do with his proven ability to cover kickoffs and punts.
But the Bills showed Monday that they value Jenkins as a backup receiver. With Roscoe Parrish (knee) and James Hardy (hamstring) taking the day off, Jenkins practiced with the starters in three-receiver situations, mostly lining up outside while Josh Reed moved to the slot.
Trent Edwards said Jenkins is “in the same mold” as Reed. “I feel like Justin has come a long way,” the second-year quarterback said. “We need him to be able to adjust on the fly with the injuries that are going to occur throughout the season. Justin is a guy that can play a lot of different positions for us.”
Jenkins said the Bills learned the value of versatility when they had to put 17 players on Injured Reserve.
“Whenever anybody goes down, whether it’s Roscoe at one position, or James who plays another position, they need a guy that they can put in at any one of those spots,” Jenkins said. “I try to pride myself on knowing what to do, and whoever goes down, I’m there for him.”
Jenkins, a 27-year-old out of Mississippi State who spent two years on the Eagles practice squad before sitting out the entire 2006 season because of a knee injury, was cut by the Bills after training camp last season. After a brief stint on the practice squad, he was added to the 53-man roster in late October due to the Bills’ wave of injuries.
He quickly became one of the Bills top coverage men, notably teaming up with John Wendling to down a punt near the goalline in Miami. That led to a Chris Kelsay safety that sparked Buffalo’s 13-10 comeback win.
“I enjoy special teams,” said Jenkins, who didn’t catch a pass last season but hauled in a two-point conversion during the Bills 2008 preseason opener. “A lot of us aren’t going to play wide receiver every Sunday. That’s just the nature of the game. If it comes down to making the team just on special teams, I’m fine with that.”
MORE RECEIVERS SHINE: While Jenkins scooped in a low pass from Edwards and rolled out of bounds during the two-minute drill, he was overshadowed throughout practice by Reed and rookie Steve Johnson.
Reed consistently got open for short passes from Edwards, making one pretty diving catch on a bad throw.
Johnson, working with J.P. Losman on the second team, caught several passes, including three on one series, and had a long gain on a reverse.
SHADES OF COY WIRE: Orchard Park native Jon Corto was moved to linebacker from safety for last week’s preseason win over Pittsburgh in Toronto.
Coach Dick Jauron said coordinator Perry Fewell had been eager to put the 6-foot, 208-pound Corto at his college position.
“Perry talked to Jon and Jon was all for it,” Jauron said. “He just wants to play. He just wants a chance to play and he really did a good job. So it worked out and we’ll see where it goes.”
QUICK HITS: CB Ashton Youboty is getting every opportunity to prove he belongs on the roster. Having spent most of camp outside, and starting there in the first preseason game, he worked in the slot with both the first- and second-teams during Monday’s two-minute drill. ... S Donte Whitner took another personal day to deal with a family matter. ... TE Derek Schouman (knee), OT Matt Murphy (shoulder), CB Kennard Cox (ankle), and WR Scott Mayle (hamstring) sat out again.
Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.
