PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Buffalo Bills backup offensive lineman Alec Anderson is expected to be released from the hospital following a brief stay in which he was treated for heat-related illness symptoms, the team announced on Tuesday.
鈥淭he Bills medical team, (GM) Brandon Beane and (coach) Sean McDermott spoke with Alec on the phone a short time ago, and he was in good spirits,鈥� the Bills said in a statement released a few hours after the player was loaded into an ambulance and transported to the hospital following practice. 鈥淗e is expected to be released from the hospital later this afternoon.鈥�
Anderson appeared having difficulty getting up after the team鈥檚 post-practice stretching period.
McDermott and several Bills players were gathered near the ambulance, with offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis seen flashing a thumbs-up sign to his teammate through the ambulance window.
Starting left tackle Dion Dawkins referred to Anderson as being a 鈥渢ough dude,鈥� before adding: 鈥淩egardless of what it is, Alec鈥檚 fighting and he鈥檒l be all right.鈥�
Anderson is in his third year with Buffalo after being signed as an undrafted rookie free agent out of UCLA. He spent his first season on the Bills鈥� practice squad before making the roster last year, though he鈥檚 yet to appear in a game. Anderson has already had a notable camp in having been involved in several on-field scuffles with defensive teammates.
Before practice, offensive coordinator Joe Brady smiled when asked about Anderson鈥檚 feisty approach.
鈥淚 think the more years he goes by, he might realize you probably don鈥檛 need to fight every day,鈥� Brady said, laughing. 鈥淏ut he doesn鈥檛 blink. It鈥檚 his personality. And it鈥檚 easier to tell a guy to back off than to bite. And I never have to worry about him biting.鈥�
The Bills had just completed their sixth day of training camp in suburban Rochester, New York. Temperatures were in the mid-80s.
The practice was one of the team鈥檚 longest of camp in going just over two hours. Players practiced in light pads and shorts a day after the team鈥檚 first full-padded session.
The Bills have a day off on Wednesday before resuming camp on Thursday.
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AP NFL:
John Wawrow, The Associated Press
