The Bills will likely be without DE Chris Kelsay in Sunday's game against New England. Kelsay suffered a neck injury in practice Thursday, but it is not believed to be serious. (US Presswire)

The Buffalo Bills had a bit of a scare during Thursday’s practice when defensive end Chris Kelsay exited early with a neck injury. He was able to slowly walk off the field under his own power.

Bills coach Chan Gailey said Friday that the injury is not believed to be serious.

“It’s not major, but I don’t know if he can get ready for this week,” Gailey said. “We’ve got to wait and see how the treatment goes and whether he can get ready for this week or not.”

Gailey added that Kelsay is not in danger of missing the rest of the season.

“To me, I think it’s just a matter of this game, from what I understand,” Gailey said. “It may go longer, but I think it’s just this week.”

Kelsay has been starting at RDE in recent weeks with Mark Anderson (knee) injured. Kelsay has 14 tackles and two sacks in eight games.

With Kelsay not expected to play and Anderson out, the Bills will be counting on DEs Shawne Merriman and Kyle Moore to step up. Merriman has received limited reps since returning to the team in mid-October, so it may be a bit much to expect him to play an entire game. But Gailey feels he and Moore can rotate at the position.

“I think (Merriman) can go in and play that rotation without a problem,” Gailey said. “I don’t think it’d be fair to go ask him to play 65 -- and for these guys it’d be 85 plays -- so we’re going to need all hands on deck defensively for the number of snaps we’ll probably have.”

Moore has impressed as a pass rusher but still has work to do as a run defender. He’ll need to be stout against the run Sunday after the Patriots ran for 247 yards in their Week 4 win over Buffalo.

“He’s gotten better,” Gailey said of Moore. “He’s got some work to do in playing the run but he’s done a pretty good job pass rushing when he’s been in there. So he’ll have to muscle up this week; they’re going to want to run the football.”

For more updates on the Bills, follow correspondent Mark Ludwiczak on Twitter @CBSBills and @MarkLud12.