ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -Anthony Thomas signed with the Bills as a free agent hoping to revive a stagnant career under the tutelage of his old head coach, Dick Jauron. He'll get his chance this Sunday when Buffalo travels to Indianapolis to take on the undefeated Colts.

The ``A-Train'' will be making his first start in more than a year when he takes over for the injured Willis McGahee - who is out indefinitely with broken ribs - and the Michigan product can hardly wait.

``Whenever I have an opportunity, I take advantage of it,'' said Thomas, who filled in when McGahee went down in Sunday's win over Green Bay. ``You never know what's going to happen, so you have to be prepared.''

Thomas rumbled for 95 yards on 20 carries and an impressive 14-yard touchdown in over three quarters of work against the Packers, the most action he's seen since rushing 21 times for Dallas in a game against the New York Giants last October. The score iced Buffalo's 24-10 victory, and gave Thomas a chance to once again smile after a difficult couple of years.

Splitting time with the Cowboys and New Orleans in '05, Thomas finished with just 43 carries for 92 yards, a far cry from winning offensive rookie of the year honors in 2001 by gaining 1,183 yards on 278 carries for Chicago.

Following another 1,000-yard season in 2003, Thomas gained just 404 yards in a backup role with the Bears in 2004 before being released.

Despite the slide in production, Jauron knew Thomas' career was far from over, and that the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder would be an ideal backup for McGahee.

``Anthony's really a good football player,'' Jauron said. ``He's got size, he's got speed, and he's got an unusual style. He likes to play, he's got good hands, he's a good blocker, and he's a competitor.''

Thomas believes the downtime over the last couple of years has actually been a blessing for both his mind and body.

``It gave me a chance to heal up, and it's given me a chance to learn more and be a student of the game,'' he said. ``My body was beat up in Chicago.''

Not only has Thomas been reunited with Jauron, but he's also rekindled friendships with Daimon Shelton, Chris Villarrial and Mike Gandy. The three played with Thomas in Chicago, so it was like old times against the Packers when the four helped do in their former archrivals from Green Bay.

``You've got Chris coming and picking me up, Gandy picking me up, and Daimon out there blocking,'' Thomas said. ``It kind of reminded me of those things we used to do.''

Thomas has already surpassed his 2005 rushing output with 134 yards and has reached the end zone twice. Both touchdown runs were vintage Thomas, as he burst through an open creases off left tackle, and stiff-armed defenders en route to the scores. It's those types of runs that give the Bills confidence in their new, but temporary, No. 1 back.

``He's a veteran guy and has been around a long time,'' receiver Lee Evans said. ``He runs the ball hard, and did a lot to get our running game off the ground last week. We have tremendous faith in him.''

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