ORCHARD PARK - Roscoe Parrish sprinted 5 yards, stopped and crossed over the middle, reaching up with both hands to catch the ball thrown a little over his head.

The Buffalo Bills rookie receiver has run this route and made this catch hundreds of times before. The only difference in Thursday's practice was that Parrish did it with a soft pad wrapped around his right wrist to protect an injured hand he had surgery on two months ago.

”It feels good to be back,“ said Parrish, the Bills' second-round pick who was cleared to begin catching passes and wearing pads this week for the first time since he was hurt. ”The more amount of reps I take, the more comfortable I get.“

Though it's unlikely Parrish, who's listed as questionable, will play when Buffalo hosts the New York Jets on Sunday, he's showing signs of soon being ready to make his long-awaited NFL debut.

Parrish isn't sure when that might be, but added he could be ready to play even if he can't fully flex his wrist.

”The key is to just strengthen my wrist and how much my wrist can hold up and we'll go from there,“ Parrish said.

Once he's cleared to play, Parrish will have to at least initially continue wearing a soft cast, which doesn't cover his fingers but extends across the back of his wrist to prevent it from snapping too far back.

The cast didn't seem to bother Parrish during his first two practices Wednesday and Thursday, as he caught every pass thrown his way during the period open to reporters.

Coach Mike Mularkey is encouraged by Parrish's progress but cautious as to when he might be cleared to play. At best, the coach said, Parrish would be a game-time decision on Sunday.

Parrish has been out since he was hurt, landing awkwardly while diving for an overthrown pass during practice in training camp on Aug. 10. The Bills have not revealed the extent of the injury, but it's believed Parrish broke his wrist.

The injury was a significant blow for the player, drafted 55th overall out of Miami, who had turned heads with his speed and catching ability in spring minicamps and during a scrimmage against Green Bay a few days before he was hurt.

Had Parrish not been injured, he was already projected to have a strong shot at beating out fourth-year veteran Josh Reed for the No. 3 receiving spot.

Parrish is coming off a strong junior season in which he led the Hurricanes with 43 catches for 693 yards and led the ACC with eight touchdowns. He finished his college career with 81 catches, 1,285 yards and 11 touchdowns and scored a TD on another punt return.

The only thing that likely hurt his draft stock was his 5-foot-9 height.

”It's been tough for me. I was looking forward to this season,“ Parrish said. ”But I believe everything happens for a reason. I've just got to get into the game mentally, stay focused and not let anything bring me down.“