Buffalo Bills wide receiver and core special teams player Marcus Easley is expected to miss four to six weeks with a sprained MCL, according to ESPN.

Bills special teams ace Marcus Easley is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with an MCL sprain, reports @AdamSchefter — Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) September 22, 2014

Easley emerged as one of the Bills' best special teams performers during a breakout 2013 campaign. Through three games in 2014, he is one of six Buffalo players that have participated in more than half of the team's special teams snaps- and that's even including Sunday's loss to San Diego, when Easley went down in the third quarter with this MCL sprain.

In Easley's absence, the Bills could rely on veteran defensive back Corey Graham to pick up the slack, though he has only taken a meager 16 (of 86) teams reps to date this season; recently-signed linebacker Larry Dean recorded 20 special teams snaps on Sunday, and may also factor into the replacement plan for Easley, as well.

The team's other top special teams players - linebacker Ty Powell, cornerback Ron Brooks, running back Boobie Dixon, safety Duke Williams, and wide receiver Chris Hogan - may be more heavily counted on, as well.