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Hardy hopes to play in opener

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Updated Jul 27, 2009 9:30 PM ET
     
 
Buffalo Bills receiver James Hardy says his knee rehabilitation is going well. It remains to be seen, however, whether Hardy will be fully ready for the start of the regular season on Sept. 14. Hardy, the Bills second-round draft pick last season, was placed on the physically unable to perform list Friday to open training camp. That was expected, since Hardy is only a little more than six months removed from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee. Meanwhile, the Bills also waived linebacker John DiGiorgio, who is out for the season due to a knee injury he suffered last October. They also placed receiver C.J. Hawthorne on the PUP list. He's recovering from a foot injury. Hardy tore up his knee in a game against the New York Jets last Dec. 14. He had surgery in January. Recovery time from an ACL injury is six to nine months, depending on the injury. So even if he were not ready to start the regular season, he would not be behind schedule. Hardy said he has been running pass routes the past three to four weeks. "I've been in Buffalo the majority of the summer," Hardy said. "I've just been getting healthy. Each and every week, I'm progressing in my weight [lifting]. Everything is going according to plan. I've started cutting a lot more the past month in running my routes. I'm very comfortable with where I'm at and hopefully I'll be out there soon." In the spring, Hardy said a possible timetable would have him ready to start practicing in August and returning to game action for the last preseason game. He said he didn't want to commit to a specific timetable. "I just listen to my knee," he said. "When it feels like it's the right time for me to be out there that's when I'll get on the field. I really can't put a time limit on it. I'm getting better every day. Everything is going according to plan. Hopefully it will be in that time frame." DiGiorgio was the backup to middle linebacker Paul Posluszny last season until tearing up his knee in the sixth game. His knee required further surgery this month. He underwent a microfracture procedure to promote more cartilage growth, and he will be unable to play this season. The Bills listed him as having failed the team physical. If he clears waivers, he reverts back to the Bills because he is under contract through 2010. At that point the Bills could put him on the reserve PUP list, putting him out for the year. Hardy and Hawthorne are on the active PUP list, meaning they can be added to the roster when healthy. In other roster news, the Bills' four unsigned rookies remained holdouts. As of Saturday evening, four of 32 first-rounders and eight of 32 second-rounders had signed. e-mail: mgaughan@buffnews.com
Tagged: Bills, James Hardy

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