Bills center Wood (ACL) out for rest of 2011

Wood confirmed what the Bills feared, that he tore a ligament a day earlier in a 44-7 loss at Dallas. He added doctors are waiting for the swelling to subside before determining when to have surgery. It'll be the second season-ending operation Wood's had in his three years in Buffalo; he broke two bones in his left leg during his rookie season. "It's definitely not something I wanted to go through again, another long rehab process," Wood said. "But I'll do it.

And I'll just look to come back stronger next year." The initial prognosis is Wood will miss up to nine months, though the center said he's aiming to be ready for the start of training camp next summer. The second of Buffalo's two first-round draft picks in 2009, Wood was hurt after Ryan Fitzpatrick threw his first of three interceptions late in the third quarter. Turning to chase down Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman, Wood said he was attempting to sidestep a Dallas player when he ran into linebacker DeMarcus Ware and fell awkwardly. Wood was not the only player the Bills lost to a season-ending injury Sunday. Coach Chan Gailey said rookie linebacker Chris White will also have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right knee. White did it covering a punt earlier in the third quarter. Gailey added that receiver Steve Johnson is day to day after he hurt his left shoulder in the fourth quarter and did not return. The status of safety George Wilson (stinger) is also uncertain this week as the Bills (5-4) prepare to travel to play Miami (2-7). Wood's injury is the most significant, and latest blow to a team that's lost three of its past four and is losing ground in the AFC playoff hunt. It's also a blow to an offense that's suddenly sputtering. After opening the season by scoring 20 or more points in its first seven games, Buffalo has combined for 18 in its past two. Buffalo's offensive line is already depleted. Left guard Andy Levitre has spent the past three games starting at left tackle filling in for both starter Demetrius Bell (shoulder) and rookie backup Chris Hairston (ankle). Bell has not practiced since being hurt six weeks ago, while Hairston was left inactive the past two weeks. Gailey said, Levitre will likely make yet another positional switch and take over at center for Wood. Hairston is expected to return at left tackle. Wood becomes Buffalo's third regular placed on injured reserve in as many weeks. Defensive tackle Kyle Williams (foot) went on the list last week, while linebacker Shawne Merriman (Achilles tendon) also is out for the year. And that doesn't include veteran kicker Rian Lindell, who's out indefinitely after breaking a bone in his right shoulder in a 27-11 loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 6. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press