Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey said injured running back Marshawn Lynch should return for Thursday's preseason finale against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

"I plan on him playing, no question," Gailey said.

The development suggests Lynch will play in the regular-season opener Sept. 12 against the Miami Dolphins.

"Yeah, I should," Lynch said. "That was my goal. I feel pretty confident in getting there."

A few plays after starting running back Fred Jackson broke his hand, Lynch suffered a sprained ankle on the opening drive of the Bills' exhibition opener and has been sidelined since.

Lynch participated in Monday's walkthrough session and ran afterward.

"He did running afterwards and kept up with everybody else, which is important," Gailey said, "but we’ll know a lot more [Tuesday], when we have a real practice."

Lynch has rushed for 1,000 yards in two of his three NFL seasons and went to a Pro Bowl. He lost his job as the feature back to Jackson last season.

With both unable to play, rookie C.J. Spiller has been scintillating. In his past two preseason games he has scored three touchdowns.

"I think we had a pretty good idea of what he could do," Gailey said. "To say that all he's done is verify that would sort of be an understatement. I think we understood it, and I'm excited about his year."

Gailey was coy about his plans once all three running backs are healthy.

"We don't know how that's going to shake out," Gailey said. "We've got the luxury of three pretty good backs. So we'll make that decision when we get closer there.

"They may all be in there at the same time. You never know. On the first play of the game."