Report: Sammy Watkins will play for Bills on Thursday

All week long, both the Bills and Sammy Watkins himself have indicated he will suit up against the Jets on Thursday night despite discomfort in his surgically repaired foot. With kickoff drawing ever closer, it appears they will stay true to their word.

Watkins was seen warming up on the field, which isn’t always a sure sign somebody will play, but at the very least suggests he’ll try to go. And according to Kim Jones for NFL.com, that remains the plan, as she’s now heard twice today the wide receiver is a go for the big AFC East tilt.

Assuming Watkins can manage the pain, it will be a huge boost for a Bills offense lacking in playmakers. Of course, that might be a pretty big assumption considering the third-year wideout hauled in just four passes for 43 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Ravens. Sure, it was a bad day for Buffalo offensively, putting just seven points on the scoreboard, but how much of that was because Watkins wasn’t at full strength?

If it turns out he is anywhere near 100 percent, that could present trouble for a Jets secondary and cornerback Darrelle Revis, who were torched to the tune of 12 catches for 180 yards a touchdown by A.J. Green of the Bengals just four days ago.

Watkins has the potential to swing the momentum either way in this contest. All we know for sure is it sounds like he’ll play. We’ll find out when both teams announce their inactives shortly.