AFC East injuries, Week 5: E.J. Manuel out ‘a few weeks’ with knee sprain

The biggest injury for the AFC East in Week 5 happened on Thursday night when Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel left the team's game with a knee injury. Diagnosed with an LCL sprain in his right knee, the Bills will be without their starting quarterback for a "few weeks" and will instead have to depend on the contributions of Thaddeus Lewis in Week 6.

Also hurt for the Bills on Thursday night was wide receiver Stevie Johnson who left the game with a back injury. After leaving the game in the first half with back difficulties, Johnson returned to the field for just one play before returning to the sideline for the remainder of the game. Fortunately for the Bills, Johnson's injury isn't considered serious, and he's expected to be available for the team's Week 6 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The rest of the AFC East was relatively fortunate to avoid serious injury in Week 5. While the Miami Dolphins lost both linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and Nolan Carroll on Sunday to shoulder and rib injuries, respectively, a Week 6 bye week should be enough time for the pair to recover from the minor dings.

A knee injury for New England Patriots nose tackle Tommy Kelly is also considered to be a minor ding, although the team has been quiet about the specifics of the injury. With Vince Wilfork lost for the season with an Achilles tear, the Patriots can't afford to lose any more run stoppers along their defensive line, but it doesn't appear as though Kelly will miss time.

The only team to win in the AFC East in Week 5, the New York Jets, were also the most fortunate in terms of injuries, as no player was officially announced by the team as injured during the game. With hamstring injuries for Santonio Holmes and Dee Milliner still on the mend, the team could have almost all of its key contributors back on the field soon.