ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are heading into Sunday’s Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a variety of injuries in all three phases with coach Sean McDermott ruling out four players on Friday for the game — wide receiver Gabe Davis (knee), safety Taylor Rapp (calf), LB Baylon Spector (back) and CB Christian Benford (knee).
This will be a second straight game missed for both Davis and Rapp after they suffered injuries in the regular season finale vs. the Miami Dolphins. Spector and Benford were both injured in the playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Luckily for the Bills, there are two players, linebacker Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) and cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee) trending towards returning after missing a game.
The team still has several injuries to sort out before Sunday’s game, including starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard, who has yet to participate in practice this week, with an ankle injury that led him to being carted off the field during Monday’s win. McDermott said that they would have to see how he progresses as they get closer to Sunday.
Punter Sam Martin (left hamstring), nickel cornerback Taron Johnson (concussion protocol) and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (foot) are also dealing with injuries. The team signed punter Matt Haack to the practice squad in case Martin can’t go. Diggs did not participate in practice on Thursday with the foot injury and veteran rest after fully participating in a walk-through on Wednesday.
“I think it happened early part in the game, but it showed up a little bit in the day or two after, so it wasn’t something we were aware of right after the game there,” McDermott said. “So, [Diggs will] be out there in some capacity today. It’ll be limited at best.”
McDermott said, “I don’t think so,” when asked about any concern for Diggs’ status for the game, but that they are taking it one day at a time.
