The Buffalo Bills are heading into their Week 15 matchup against the New England Patriots with a big question mark in the secondary. Starting cornerback Christian Benford, who’s been one of the defense’s most consistent playmakers this season, is dealing with a toe injury that has his status for Sunday in doubt.
Benford popped up on the injury report Thursday after suffering the injury during practice. On Friday, head coach Sean McDermott addressed the situation but didn’t offer much clarity, saying the team is still in wait-and-see mode.
“We really don’t know,” McDermott said. “Just 24 hours off of the incident, so we will see how today goes.”
The good news? McDermott doesn’t believe the injury is serious or something that will linger long-term.
“I don’t feel like it is,” he added.
Still, the timing couldn’t be worse for Buffalo. Benford has been playing some of his best football of the season, and his recent performances have been nothing short of game-changing.
Over the last two games, he’s found the end zone twice - including a pick-six against Ja’Marr Chase that flipped the momentum and helped spark a comeback win for the Bills. That kind of impact from a cornerback doesn’t come around often, and losing him, even for a week, would be a blow to a Buffalo defense that’s already had its share of injury setbacks this season.
Benford’s emergence has been one of the more underrated storylines in Buffalo’s 2023 campaign. Drafted in the sixth round back in 2022, he’s developed into a reliable, physical presence on the outside.
His stat line this season tells the story: 39 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. That’s not just solid production - that’s a corner who’s making plays all over the field.
If Benford can’t go Sunday, the Bills will have some decisions to make in the secondary. Depth has been tested all year, and while Buffalo has found ways to plug holes, replacing Benford’s instincts and playmaking ability won’t be easy.
For now, the Bills are holding out hope that this is just a minor setback. But as they prepare for a divisional road game in Foxborough, all eyes will be on Benford’s status - because when he’s on the field, this defense looks a whole lot more dangerous.