Bills DT Marcell Dareus has reported to OTAs.

Dareus was absent from last week's sessions for personal reasons. "It felt like normal," Dareus said. "Getting back out here with the guys, just excited. ... I really can't until we put it all together and I see what we can do." Coming off a strong sophomore season, Dareus is an ascendant player at the age of 23.

Marcell Dareus is absent from Bills OTAs.

A reason was not provided, but it appears Dareus is simply skipping the "voluntary" workouts. The No. 3 pick of the 2011 draft graded out as the No. 11 defensive tackle in Pro Football Focus' ratings last season. He has work to do as a run stopper, but Dareus' future remains bright.

Bills NT Marcell Dareus is expected to play in Week 2 despite the Monday death of his brother.

Dareus' younger brother was senselessly murdered during a home invasion. "I think he'll be back for Sunday's game, whether it's tonight, tomorrow or the next day I don't know," coach Chan Gailey said. "But I think he'll be here for this week. He wants to be back."

Coach Chan Gailey says the Bills will use multiple defensive fronts in 2012 despite their official switch to a 4-3 scheme.

"When we hand you a lineup card, it's going to have two defensive tackles, two defensive ends and three linebackers" Gailey said. "But how much we end up in even spacing (or) odd spacing ... I think that's determined by players and the offense we're playing and what they give us." The Bills will still mix in some 3-4, but new DC Dave Wannstedt has only ever coached a 4-3, and finding 4-3 players should be a priority during the draft.

The Bills plan to use a base 4-3 front on defense in 2012, transitioning away from previous attempts to run a 3-4.

The Bills ended up being mostly a 4-3 team in 2011. Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams will be the tackles, with Chris Kelsay on one of the ends. The Bills desperately need a weak-side rusher after finishing 27th in the NFL in sacks.

According to the Buffalo News, there's a "possibility" the Bills will return to a 4-3 scheme under DC Dave Wannstedt in 2012.

This is a tug-of-war to watch. GM Buddy Nix has been drafting for a 3-4 scheme, but Wannstedt has never run anything other than 4-3 as coordinator or head coach. Placing promising 2011 first-rounder Marcell Dareus next to Kyle Williams would give the Bills one of the most imposing tackle combinations in the league.

NT Marcell Dareus sustained a left hand/wrist injury in the Bills' Week 15 loss to the Dolphins.

Dareus was in and out of the lineup Sunday before leaving for good in the second half. He had X-rays Sunday and is headed for further testing Monday. The Bills have already lost nose tackles Kyle Williams (foot) and Torell Troup (back) for the season. Their run defense is in shambles.

Bills NT Marcell Dareus was sidelined in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Jets with an illness.

The team announced Dareus' return as "to be determined." Dareus has been playing nose tackle because starting nose tackle Kyle Williams is done for the year. He's the Bills' best run defender, so this is a concerning loss.

The Bills moved No. 3 overall pick Marcell Dareus from defensive end to nose tackle in Week 8, and Dareus paced the team with 2.5 sacks.

The Bills dominated in the trenches and sacked John Beck nine times, good for the second most in franchise history. Buffalo entered the game with four sacks all year, the NFL's lowest total. "He played unbelievable," observed OLB Chris Kelsay of Dareus. "He made the plays that needed to be made. He's a force to be reckoned with." Dareus entered Week 8 with one sack through six starts.

WGR 550 Buffalo's Joe Buscaglia thinks No. 3 overall pick DT Marcell Dareus looked like "a man amongst boys" in the Bills' preseason opener on Saturday.

Dareus tallied one of nine Bills sacks, and often got the better of Bears RG Lance Louis. It was indeed a great performance, but came against a Bears offensive line that was positively sieve-like. Dareus should face a stiffer test when the Bills take on the Jaguars next Saturday.

Bills signed No. 3 overall pick DT Marcell Dareus to a fully guaranteed four-year, $20.4 million contract.

Athletic and fluid with the ability to split double teams, Dareus has the ability to play the nose or two-gap in Buffalo's 3-4 scheme. He'll start his career at left defensive end, moving inside in nickel packages. As long as the Bills pick up a linebacker or two in free agency, Dareus should be a boon for the run defense.

Bills DL coach Giff Smith says first-round pick Marcell Dareus will be used in all situations this season.

"He can obviously play in base defense and in nickel situations with the pass rush," Smith said. "He's got the whole gamut. He can do it all so we're going to put him out there." Dareus is expected to begin the season at left defensive end.