Spikes was held out of Wednesday's practice due to illness, BuffaloBills.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Spikes has just a single tackle over the four games he's been active this season. While he's a good source of leadership for the Bills, his IDP days are long gone.

Spikes left practice early Tuesday with an undisclosed injury and did not return, ESPN's Mike Rodak reports.

EDGE Analysis

Spikes and the Bills begin their regular season Sept. 11 in Baltimore, but the linebackers' status could be up in the air if the injury turns out to be serious. As for now, the severity of Spikes' injury is unclear and more information should be available within the coming days.

Spikes signed a one-year deal with the Bills on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Spikes has flip-flopped between the Bills and Patriots his entire career, and with the Bills being decimated with injuries at linebacker (Shaq Lawson, Reggie Ragland, Manny Lawson, Kevin Reddick, and Jamari Lattimore) they'll turn to a familiar face. Spikes can stop opposing runners with the best of the them, so the signing gives the Bills some depth or at least another camp body. However, the team is weak at pass coverage amid the linebacking corps, and Spikes would make that eyesore even worse if he ends up seeing the field for regular season action.

Spikes was released by the Patriots on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Spikes was brought on by the Patriots less than one month ago, but the team wasted little time releasing the linebacker following an alleged traffic incident (his car was found abandoned Sunday morning, per ESPN). The 27-year-old Spikes will now be free to sign elsewhere, though any NFL team considering this will likely wait until the pending police investigation is closed.

Spikes signed a one-year deal with the Patriots on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Spikes spent the first four seasons of his career with the Patriots, and had his best year in 2012, tallying 92 combined tackles and five forced fumbles. After collecting 54 combined tackles in 2014 with the Bills, Spikes will return to his original home, where he should be a favorite to take over a starting inside linebacker role. At the very least, he'll provide an insurance policy in the case that Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower suffer any setbacks in the recovery from their respective knee and shoulder injuries.

Spikes visited the Patriots on Wednesday, csnne.com reports. Spikes, who played with the Patriots from 2010-13, spent the 2014 season with Buffalo, recording 54 tackles for the Bills in the process. While the Patriots have more pressing needs on defense than linebacker, bringing back Spikes would bolster a unit at the position (particularly against the run) that also includes Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower.

Spikes, who logged 54 tackles and one sack in 2014, will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. While it didn't always show up on the stat sheet, Spikes is an excellent run stuffer and complemented Buffalo's stout defensive line well. Spikes loves playing in Buffalo, but with Kiko Alonso coming back from injury next season, the team may have to get creative to give him the kind of money and role he'd be happy with. Regardless, Spikes almost always comes off the field in passing downs - he played only 46.4 percent of the defensive snaps in 2014 - limiting his IDP value no matter where he ends up.

Spikes played just 24 percent of the team's defensive snaps in Thursday's loss to the Dolphins, The Buffalo News reports. He logged two total tackles and no other meaningful stats. Spikes, in his first season with the Bills, has added a nice veteran presence and ability to stuff in the run in the middle of the field, but he's simply not as versatile as Preston Brown and Nigel Bradham and he doesn't get to stay on the field as much. His two teammates make for better IDP plays.

Spikes (ribs) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Vikings.� Spikes recorded season-high eight tackles in Week 6 against the Patriots, but with 27 tackles and a sack through six games overall, his IDP utility has been limited to deeper formats.

Spikes (ribs) practiced on a limited basis for the third straight day Friday but is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Vikings. Spikes has really helped boost the overall Buffalo run defense this season, but with 27 tackles and a sack through six games, he seems to fall under the IDP level of those linebackers who see the field more.