Orchard Park, NY (WGR 550) -- For the second straight season, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Donald Jones had his season cut short by being placed on the Injured Reserve. Except this time around, Jones was placed on a reserve list for a non-football illness.
Head coach Chan Gailey didn't even get cryptic in his explanation. Instead he passed the buck on to Jones.
"He's got an illness, and if he wants to talk to you about it, I'll let him talk to you about it because I don't talk about that are not football related and this one is not football related."
Challenge accepted. Reporters caught up with Jones on Thursday, but he didn't shed much light on specifics.
"It's something I've been dealing with for years," the wideout said. "Now, going on I-R gives me a chance to really rest my body and get everything back together. I can't really speak on it right now. Once I go see the doctors and get a chance to talk to everybody and gather everything together, I'm sure more will come out then."
While Jones won't publicize his ailment just yet, but we can trace back to something that bugged him previously. July of 2011 when he told The Buffalo News' Mark Gaughan that he had a minor kidney disorder, which even amounted to some teams taking him off their draft boards back in 2010.
Jones told Gaughan at the time that he didn't have to take any medication and it didn't affect his playing abilities, but that it's something he'll likely always have.
It is unclear if this is what will sideline Jones over the course of the next two weeks. The wide receiver stressed, however, that this would not keep him away from football for very long.
"It's not career-threatening at all," he said. "I'll definitely have a full offseason and come back to do football stuff. The people that I'm going to deal with are top-of-the-line doctors. They'll get everything back together, and I'm sure they'll be able to get a better understanding and get everything under control."
Add this new, or old, development to another factor staring both the Bills and Jones in the face. The team's number-two wide receiver is set to be a restricted free agent when the new league year rolls around in March of 2013.
"Going from having really the best season that I've had in the league to this now, it's definitely something that I didn't want to have to go through," Jones remarked. "But that initial impact is done now. So now it's just moving forward. I've got to go home and get right and get everything healthy and get back on the field and be strong for everybody."
In 2012, Jones almost doubled both his career catches and receiving yards. He accumulated 41 receptions for 443 yards in his twelve games played. Through his first two seasons, ironically enough, Jones amassed 41 receptions and 444 yards. He has six career touchdowns, four of which coming this season.
Jones signed with Buffalo as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
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