‘The Bills welcome back seven starters who were lost last year with season-ending injuries and getting everyone back into the lineup is an absolute necessity if the team is going to take a step forward and snap its 12-year playoff drought. The players include running back Fred Jackson (leg), center Eric Wood (ACL), wide receiver Donald Jones (ankle), nose tackle Kyle Williams (foot), defensive end Shawn Merriman (Achilles), cornerback Terrence McGee (knee) and kicker Rian Lindell (shoulder). The progress of Wood and Williams will be watched closely. The young leaders anchor their respective lines and depth isn’t good enough to replace them without a noticeable drop-off. Merriman, 28, is still hopeful as are the Bills that he can regain his All-Pro form from San Diego coming off even more surgery. How No. 1 wide receiver Stevie Johnson bounces back from offseason groin surgery also bears watching.’