Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills may take the field in Foxborough, MA without their best defensive playmaker from the last two weeks. Cornerback Christian Benford, who had a game-changing interception returned for a touchdown last week after a scoop-and-score the week before, did not practice on Friday.
Head coach Sean McDermott said in his regular Friday morning media session that Benford’s toe injury happened in practice, but that was as much information as he was willing to give. He did confirm that the fourth-year corner would not be participating in the Bills’ final practice before they hit the road to take on the New England Patriots. However, he added that he doesn’t know what Benford’s status for Sunday’s game will be.
If Benford can’t play, it’s going to be a big loss for Buffalo’s secondary. The 25-year-old Benford was the Week 13 AFC Defensive Player of the Week thanks to adding an interception to his scoop-and-score fumble recovery against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Week 14, not only did he intercept Joe Burrow and return it for a touchdown to give the Bills their first lead of the day halfway through the fourth quarter; he also had a timely sack earlier in the game.
Without Benford, Buffalo has veteran cornerback Tre’Davious White and rookie Maxwell Hairston as their active roster boundary corners. This was likely the exact scenario general manager Brandon Beane was worried about when he claimed Darius Slay Jr. off waivers two weeks ago. Of course, we all know that Slay did not report, claiming he is “considering retiring” and the Bills lost defensive back Ja’Marcus Ingram when the Houston Texans claimed him of the waiver wire.
Three days ago, the Bills signed cornerback M.J. Devonshire to the practice squad. Devonshire was a 2024 seventh-round draft pick by the Las Vegas Raiders and spent all of last season on their practice squad.
