Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that Benford is in concussion protocol, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Despite being placed in the concussion protocol, Benford played 98 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps and recorded five total tackles in the divisional-round win over the Ravens. The third-year pro from Villanova has started all 17 games he's appeared in this season, making his potential absence a significant loss for Buffalo in the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs. Benford must clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol to be eligible to play Sunday.
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Bills' Taylor Rapp: Considered day-to-day
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Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that Rapp is considered day-to-day with a hip injury, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
The veteran safety from Washington exited the Bills' divisional-round win over the Ravens due to a hip injury, and McDermott's comments Monday suggest he's got a chance to return for Sunday's AFC Championship Game in Kansas City. Rapp's practice participation throughout the week is likely to offer the best insight into whether he can return in time for Sunday's contest. If he's unable to go, expect Cole Bishop to start alongside Damar Hamlin in Buffalo's secondary.
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Bills' Taylor Rapp: Done for night
Rotowire
Rapp (hip) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's AFC divisional-round matchup with Baltimore.
Rapp suffered a hip injury in the first half while making a tackle on Lamar Jackson, and he will now be forced to sit out the remainder of the game. In his place, Cole Bishop will continue to operate as the team's primary strong safety versus the Ravens.
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Bills' Taylor Rapp: Questionable to return Sunday
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Rapp (hip) is questionable to return to Sunday's AFC divisional-round matchup with the Ravens.
Rapp picked up a hip injury in the second quarter against Baltimore, exiting the contest as a result. In his absence, Cole Bishop has taken over at strong safety versus the Ravens.
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Bills' Brandon Codrington: Inactive for divisional round
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Codrington (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Ravens.
Codrington has been a core special-teamer for Buffalo this season, playing almost twice as many snaps on special teams (126) as on defense (64) this season. The undrafted rookie out of North Carolina Central logged nine tackles and one pass deflection over 17 regular-season appearances. With Codrington sidelined, expect Khalil Shakir and/or Ty Johnson to handle punt and kickoff-return duties.
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Bills' Brandon Codrington: Ready to rock
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Codrington (hamstring) was a full participant in Buffalo's walkthrough practice Wednesday.
The North Carolina Central product was sidelined for the Bills' wild-card round win over the Broncos due to a hamstring injury. However, Wednesday's full practice estimation suggests he's recovered from the issue. With Codrington back at full health, he's expected to assume Buffalo's top return specialist duties for the divisional-round matchup against the Ravens on Sunday night.
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Bills' Taron Johnson: Returns to Sunday's game
Rotowire
Johnson (neck) has returned to Sunday's game against the Broncos, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Johnson exited in the first quarter of Sunday's game to be checked for a concussion and a neck injury. The veteran corner was able to clear both evaluations and returned early in the second quarter.
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Bills' Taron Johnson: Leaves game with neck injury
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Johnson suffered a neck injury in the first quarter of Sunday's wild-card game against the Broncos and is questionable to return.
The positive news is that Johnson cleared the concussion protocol following a helmet-to-helmet hit that left him down on the field for several moments. The veteran slot corner is arguably the team's most important member of the secondary, so his return -- either this game or in the divisional round, should the Bills advance -- looms large in the team's quest for its first Super Bowl title.
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Bills' Brandon Codrington: Not playing against Denver
Rotowire
Codrington (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Codrington registered a DNP-LP-LP practice log this past week due to a hamstring injury, and it appears he hasn't progressed enough in his recovery to play in Sunday's AFC wild-card game. He has been the Bills' primary returner on kickoffs and punts this season, and those duties will likely fall to Ty Johnson, Ray Davis and Mack Hollins due to Codrington's absence.
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Bills' Ja'Marcus Ingram: Ready to rock
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Ingram (personal) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Broncos.
Ingram didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday due to a personal matter but returned as a full participant Friday, indicating that he's moved past the issue in time to suit up Sunday. With Ingram available for the wild-card round, he's expected to serve as one of Buffalo's top reserve outside cornerbacks.
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Bills' Brandon Codrington: Questionable for Sunday
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Codrington (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's wild-card game against the Broncos.
The 24-year-old corner appears to be trending toward playing in Sunday's playoff contest, as he upgraded from a DNP on Wednesday to limited sessions Thursday and Friday. Codrington has appeared in all 17 of the Bills' games this season, recording 306 kick return yards and 313 punt return yards. If he's unable to play through his hamstring injury in the wild-card round, Ty Johnson is expected to assume Buffalo's top return specialist duties.
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Bills' Brandon Codrington: Upgrades to limited practice
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Codrington (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice Thursday.
Codrington was listed as a non-participant during Wednesday's walkthrough due to a hamstring injury, but his health is improving as Sunday's wild-card round game against the Broncos draws nearer. If cleared to face Denver, Codrington's greatest impact will stand to come in the return game, though he also handles a reserve role in Buffalo's secondary.
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Bills' Brandon Codrington: Logs DNP
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Codrington (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.
Codrington was unable to participate during the Bills' walkthrough practice Wednesday after seemingly suffering the injury during Sunday's loss to the Patriots. The 24-year-old will work to get back on the field Thursday ahead of Sunday's wild-card game against the Broncos. If he is unable to play, it likely won't impact Buffalo's defense, but the team would have to turn elsewhere for a return man on special teams.
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Bills' Ja'Marcus Ingram: Dealing with personal matter
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Ingram (personal) is listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's walkthrough practice.
Ingram, who played a season-high 89 percent of defensive snaps Week 18 against the Patriots with Buffalo's starters resting, is currently away from the team due to a personal matter. If he's able to return in time for Sunday's wild-card round game against the Broncos, Ingram figures to resume handling his usual depth role at cornerback.
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Eagles' Lewis Cine: Joining Birds
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Philadelphia signed Cine off of Buffalo's practice squad Wednesday, Chris McPherson of the Eagles' official site reports.
Cine spent the entire regular season on the Bills' practice squad, but he's now headed to Philadelphia ahead of the start of the postseason. In his only appearance with Buffalo in 2024, he played exclusively on special teams.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Will play vs. Broncos
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Coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Bernard (quadriceps) will be active for Sunday's wild-card game versus Denver, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Bernard was not able to play in Buffalo's regular-season finale due to a quadriceps injury, but he'll be good to go for the start of the playoffs. He figures to play a near every-down role at linebacker in Sunday's postseason opener.
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Bills' Damar Hamlin: Starting in wild-card round
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Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed Monday that Hamlin will return to his starting safety spot in Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Broncos, Chris Brown of the Bills Radio Network reports.
Hamlin returned from a ribs injury in the Bills' Week 18 loss to the Patriots, playing 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps and recording six total tackles. There were questions about whether the 26-year-old would be ready for the playoffs after missing three games leading up to Week 18, but McDermott's comments Monday clarified that Hamlin is ready. Expect Hamlin to start alongside Taylor Rapp as part of Buffalo's top safety duo Sunday.
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Bills' Taylor Rapp: Past neck issue
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Rapp (neck) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
Rapp was limited throughout the Bills' week of practice after playing through his neck injury in the Week 17 win over the Jets, and it now appears he'll continue to play through the issue Sunday. Buffalo has already clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and is expected to rest its starters for most of the Week 18 contest; however, head coach Sean McDermott stated Rapp will still play "a bit" Sunday, per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com.
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Bills' Damar Hamlin: Returning for Week 18
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Hamlin (ribs) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.
The 26-year-old safety from Pittsburgh has missed Buffalo's last three games due to back and ribs injuries, but it now appears that he'll return for the team's regular-season finale Sunday. Although the Bills have already clinched the AFC's No. 2 seed and are resting some of their starters, head coach Sean McDermott clarified that Hamlin will play "some" of the Week 18 contest, likely sitting out after receiving extra in-game reps, per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com.
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Bills' Terrel Bernard: Optimism for playoffs
Rotowire
Coach Sean McDermott said Friday that he feels good about Bernard's (quadriceps) chances of playing in next weekend's playoff opener, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Bernard will not play Sunday against the Patriots, but it sounds like his injury suffered in Week 17 isn't serious enough to keep him sidelined long-term. Through 13 appearances this season, Bernard has logged 104 tackles (55 solo), including five TFLs and 1.0 sacks, three pass breakups, including two interceptions, and one fumble recovery.
