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Bills running back C.J. Spiller has been battling an ankle injury for several weeks, consistently finding a way to play through it. The Bills could be close to deciding that the time has come to give him a week off.

Coach Doug Marrone suggested on Wednesday that Spiller, who plans to practice Thursday, may not play on Sunday against the Saints.

“C.J. wants to go. He definitely wants to go,” Marrone said, via the team’s official website. “I think we’re going to have to evaluate that during the week. We’ll have to make a good decision. His injury has been . . . he’s working hard, he wants to come back and he wants to play, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to make a good decision to see where he’s at. We’ve just got to get him over this hump and we haven’t been able to do it for three weeks.”

Spiller insists he’s getting better.

“A whole lot better — 10 times better,” Spiller said. “Like I said, just a couple more hurdles I have to cross over before I can say I’m 100-percent. I definitely feel a whole lot better than I did last Wednesday.

“Nobody knows my body like me. I’m telling you I feel better. I know my body better than anybody on this team and on this earth. I know how I feel.”

Injury or not, it’s been a disappointing season for the player who supposedly would be getting the ball until he throws up. Spiller gained 103 yards rushing in Week Two against Carolina; since then, Spiller has rushed for nine, 77, 66, 55, and 11. He has only one touchdown on the season, and he’s averaging four yards per carry. Last year, he averaged six.

We respect the fact that he’s wired to play, but maybe a week off will help Spiller get back to his usual form. With the bye not coming until November 24, it could be a good time to take a game off.