Marcell Dareus

FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2015, file photo, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus (99) heads to the field before playing the Miami Dolphins in an NFL football game, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Bills star defensive tackle Marcell Dareus returns to practice on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert, File)

(Bill Wippert)

Orchard Park, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills are still waiting for defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to make his season debut.

Dareus spent the first four games of the season serving a suspension for violating the substance abuse policy. When he returned to practice, Dareus pulled his hamstring and has missed three more games.

As the Bills begin to prepare for their Week 8 game against the Patriots, Dareus will have a limited practice on Wednesday, the most encouraging sign of his improved healthy.

"Well, I hope he's ready to play Sunday," Rex Ryan said. "We've gone the whole year and he hasn't played a snap yet, so we're hoping that he's out there. Obviously he's one of the best players at his position in the league, so yeah, it would be a big boost for us if he's ready to play.

"Well I'm encouraged by the fact that it looks like there's a chance we're going to get Marcell back. So I'm encouraged by that. We'll be fine. We just move on."

The Bills have a long list of players nursing injuries this week. Ryan listed 10 players he wasn't expecting to practice on Wednesday and six others who were limited.

The biggest injury fans will be monitoring is running back LeSean McCoy's hamstring. McCoy is not expected to practice Wednesday and his status for Sunday is up in the air.

"We'll see," Ryan said. "I think today we'll find out more about him. They're doing tests and things like that, so we'll see."

Meanwhile, there's a chance safety Aaron Williams, who was blindsided by Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry, won't play on Sunday. He's dealing with a neck injury, though it appears he's been cleared of concussion symptoms for now.

Ryan is also encouraged about the progress wide receiver Robert Woods has made with his foot injury, and as an added note, wide receiver Sammy Watkins has shed his walking boot.

Here's a full list of the Bills' injuries, as relayed by Rex Ryan at his Wednesday press conference.

Not expected to practice

LB Lorenzo Alexander (rest)

OT Cordy Glenn (ankle)

LB Zach Brown (illness)

DT Adolphus Washington (illness)

DT Corbin Bryant (shoulder)

TE Charles Clay (ankle)

LB Lerentee McCray (knee)

RB LeSean McCoy (hamstring)

WR Marquise Goodwin (concussion)

S Aaron Williams (neck)

Limited participants

DT Marcell Dareus (hamstring)

RB Mike Gillislee (foot)

OT Seantrel Henderson (back)

LB Jerry Hughes (hand)

OL John Miller (shoulder)

WR Robert Woods (foot)