ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Trent Edwards and the Buffalo Bills no-huddle offense is suddenly better known as the no-touchdown attack. And no T.O. either.

With Terrell Owens still out nursing a sprained toe and the Bills starters scoring a mere 3 points in three games this preseason, questions already are being raised regarding Edwards’ effectiveness and whether the new offense will be ready for the start of the regular season in three weeks.

“When it starts for real, we’re going to have to be very good,” coach Dick Jauron said Monday. “So we’ve got a long way to go.”

The Bills returned to practice to prepare for a preseason game at Pittsburgh on Saturday, still smarting from a dreadful outing from their starting offense in a 31-21 loss at Green Bay last weekend.

Edwards went 7 for 11 for 45 yards with an interception and a lost fumble in five series — his most playing time in one game this summer. He was hurried in the pocket, occasionally hesitant or late in finding a receiver, and his fumble inside the Bills 10 led to the Packers’ opening score.

The entire offense lacked polish: The starters combined for 65 yards offense and four first downs, while reserve running back Fred Jackson also lost a fumble that set up another Packers touchdown.

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“We were pretty frustrated watching film,” Edwards said. “There were some plays we’d like to have back. Too many mistakes.”

Added receiver Josh Reed: “That’s not the Buffalo Bills. That’s not what we want to be known as.”

Not even close. Since the start of the offseason, the Bills installed a hurry-up attack in a bid to keep defenses off balance and capitalize on a receiving corps that includes Owens, who’s expected to draw coverage away from Lee Evans.

Though there have been encouraging signs of that happening, the Bills offense is far from ready.

In nine series this preseason, Bills starters have combined for 253 yards offense, 12 first downs, a field goal and four turnovers in nine series.

Edwards has been relatively efficient, going 20 for 25 for 158 yards. But he’s thrown two interceptions and registered one more tackle — bringing down Johnny Jolly after the Green Bay defensive lineman recovered Edwards’ fumble — than touchdown drives.

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“We’ve got to put some points on the board,” Edwards said. “Obviously, this week there’ll be more of an emphasis on that.”

In his defense, Edwards noted that the Bills aren’t using their entire playbook, and added that it’s better the mistakes are taking place during the preseason.

Having Owens on the field would help, too.

Except for a brief 20-minute workout last week, Owens hasn’t practiced since jamming his toe in a 21-18 loss to Tennessee in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 9. Jauron said the injury is improving, but would not provide a timetable on Owens’ return to practice.

Jauron said he doesn’t want to rush Owens back until he’s 100 percent, but noted his presence is missed.

But the receiver’s absence doesn’t explain all the mistakes that took place at Green Bay.

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“You just can’t do that and win football games,” Jauron said. “Nobody was happy with what happened.”

On a positive note, rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin made his practice debut Monday after signing a five-year contract on Friday.

Drafted 11th overall out of Penn State, Maybin worked primarily with the second unit. Though he showed great burst in getting to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick during the first series of team drills, there were also times when he struggled. Maybin was particularly fooled on a naked bootleg, in which he bit on the fake handoff and allowed Fitzpatrick to get past him and score.

“I know I’ve got a lot of catching up to do still,” Maybin said. “But for where I’m at right now, I think that I’m making good progress.”


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