Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has suggested that he will start CJ Spiller as the team's lead kick returner this coming season.

Spiller hasn't featured as a kick returner since 2011 and also struggled with injuries last season, but the Bills coach doesn't believe that such an absence from the role will hinder Spiller's ability to deliver.

"I look at it as how many guys have been injured returning the football compared to people injured with the ball being handed off to them," said Marrone, according to the team's official website.

"I don't view it as much of a risk as some people would. I could understand why people could see that because of the distance and the way people are running down the field. But again I don't look at it that way."

The new NFL season gets underway on Thursday night as the Seattle Seahawks take on the Green Bay Packers.