Originally published Monday, November 17, 2008 at 5:15 PM

Bills S Donte Whitner returns after missing 1 game

Donte Whitner returned to the lineup for Buffalo's game against the Cleveland Browns on Monday night, a little more than two weeks after the Bills' top defensive back separated his right shoulder.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. —

Donte Whitner returned to the lineup for Buffalo's game against the Cleveland Browns on Monday night, a little more than two weeks after the Bills' top defensive back separated his right shoulder.

Whitner missed one game - last week's 20-10 loss at New England - and came back in time for a critical game for the Bills, who had lost three straight and four of five. The safety and team defensive captain had other motivation to get back in the lineup, considering Buffalo was playing his hometown Browns in prime time.

Hurt in the fourth quarter of a 26-17 loss to the New York Jets on Nov. 2, Whitner practiced all last week but had been listed as questionable on Friday.

The Bills were still minus two key starters: defensive end Aaron Schobel, who missed his fifth straight game with a left foot injury; and No. 2 receiver Josh Reed, who missed his third consecutive game with a sprained right ankle.

The Browns, coming off two straight losses, welcomed back starting guard Eric Steinbach (oblique), who missed one game.

Cleveland shuffled its defensive lineup, as cornerback Travis Daniels started in place of Brandon McDonald, beaten on Eddie Royal's 93-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter of a 34-30 loss to Denver on Nov. 6.

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