Buffalo Bills WR Sammy Watkins could return this season

Wide receiver Sammy Watkins could return to the Buffalo Bills later this season.

Noted specialist Dr. Roberts Anderson told Watkins he did not need another surgery on his injured left foot. Watkins was placed on injured reserve last month with chronic discomfort in his foot.

The positive report changes the outlook in Buffalo, where the team had embraced a dire outcome that involved repeating Watkins' surgery to repair the initial break in his foot.

He had surgery in April and the Bills said on May 16 that he was expected to be fully recovered for the regular season.

But Watkins said the foot felt "heavy" and caught only six passes for 63 yards in the first two games of the 2016 season before the Bills shut him down.

He played only 40 snaps in a Week 2 game against the New York Jets, but that came on a short week with three preparation days between games.

Coach Rex Ryan said "heightened concern" arose when Watkins was not himself entering Week 3, and the Bills opted to place him on injured reserve.