The Buffalo Bills head into Monday Night Football with the Los Angeles Rams carrying a familiar kind of headache: injuries piling up in the secondary at exactly the wrong time.
Buffalo’s biggest question mark right now is Christian Benford, and the signs are pointing in the right direction. After sitting out the Week 4 loss to the New England Patriots, Benford was back on the practice field for a second straight day Friday, working as a limited participant while he manages a toe injury. The Bills are hoping that trend continues and that he can slot back into the starting lineup against Matthew Stafford and the Rams.
The rest of the injury picture is less encouraging. Nickel cornerback Dee Alford, who was hurt against New England, was not on the field during the portion of practice open to reporters.
Neither was defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who is dealing with a knee injury, or wide receiver DJ Moore, who is listed with a shoulder issue. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer also showed up on the injury report as a new name after taking part in practice in a limited capacity.
That makes Benford’s return even more important for a Bills defense already trying to steady itself after the Patriots game. The team has also been waiting to see how fellow defensive back Maxwell Hairston responds, with Benford expected to bounce back as well.
There’s been some pushback from inside the building too. Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard refuted Alford’s complaints that the noise in the new stadium affected Buffalo in the loss to New England. Meanwhile, left guard Alec Anderson is among the players speaking up for better mental health awareness, adding another layer to a week that has already been busy at One Bills Drive.
On the field, Buffalo’s offense also has work to do after the Week 4 stumble. The Bills will need a sharper showing to keep pace with a Rams team that comes in at 2-2, and there’s already talk about possible moves Brandon Beane could make before the trade deadline.
For now, though, the headline is Benford. Buffalo needs him, and Friday’s practice update gave the Bills at least a reason to feel a little better heading into a big primetime test.
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Josh Allen Could Make Bills History On A Huge Monday Night
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Allen has already had his share of memorable moments against Los Angeles, and another strong outing would deepen that history while pushing him toward a club of quarterbacks reserved for sustained early-career success. There is also a narrower mark in play tied to his work on the ground, a reminder of how much Buffalos offense expands when he is using both his arm and legs to stress a defense. Whether the numbers fall into place or not, this is the sort of national-stage game that can nudge Allens season into a different conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Deone Walker May Be The Bills' Best Hope Against The Rams
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Deone Walker has become an especially interesting piece in that equation. The rookie interior lineman has been creating pressure at a level few defensive tackles can match, and one national analyst has even singled him out as the Bills best bet to land a sack on Matthew Stafford. If Buffalo is going to slow Los Angeles enough to give itself a chance, Walkers ability to collapse the pocket may be a big part of the answer. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Trade Buzz Centers On A Defensive Problem Fans Can See
Buffalos defensive issues have been hard to miss, and the linebacker group has been one of the clearest trouble spots. That has pushed the Bills into the kind of trade chatter that tends to surface when a team believes it can still clean up a problem before the season gets away from it, especially with the NFL trade deadline approaching.
One name floating around is Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson, a player who could be on the move while Arizona works through a rebuild. The appeal for Buffalo is obvious enough: a chance to add help without paying premium price, with the idea being that a midrange pick could be enough to get something done. [Read more 🡒]