Christian Benford made arguably the play of the game in the Buffalo Bills‘ huge win Sunday. But he may not be available for Buffalo’s showdown this Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott offered an update on the defensive back Friday after his foot was in a walking boot Thursday ahead of the Bills’ crucial Week 15 road game in Foxborough.
Benford, of course, had a 63-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter of Buffalo’s 39-34 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Benford’s interception put the Bills ahead for good and kept them locked into the No. 6 seed in the AFC, a game ahead of both the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts.
The Bills (9-4) are two games back of the Patriots (11-2) and could lose the tiebreaker with a loss this weekend. New England already defeated Buffalo 23-20 at Highmark Stadium on Oct. 5.
Sean McDermott: Christian Benford Didn’t Practice Friday
Benford appears to be headed the wrong way toward playing Sunday. McDermott opened his press availability Friday by announcing that he wasn’t practicing after going through a limited practice Thursday.
“Limited today and questionable for the game,” McDermott said.
The limited practice came on the heels of his limited practice Wednesday. But according to the Buffalo News, his foot was in a walking boot Thursday, and the fact he didn’t practice Friday doesn’t bode well for his status.
McDermott was asked what happened to Benford, since he seemed to reaggravate a previous injury Thursday. But McDermott didn’t see anything unusual on the play where Benford was injured.
“Just kind of a normal practice play,” McDermott said. “[He] just tweaked his toe.”
McDermott didn’t think Benford’s injury would be a long-term ailment. But it is alarming with less than 48 hours until the game and fewer than 24 hours until Buffalo flies to New England, especially since Benford just was injured less than a day ago.
“We’re still gathering information,” McDermott said.
Not Having Christian Benford Would Not Be Good For The Bills
Benford may be tied with A.J. Epenesa and Maxwell Hairston for second on the Bills in interceptions (2), but he’s has been hot.
Benford has a pick and a touchdown in consecutive games, and he was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his 17-yard fumble recovery for TD in Buffalo’s 26-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13.
Benford is ranked 40th in the NFL in cornerbacks grade, according to Pro-Football Focus (66.2). But the Patriots are second in the NFL in passing-yards per game (249.7), and they could end up picking on rookie Maxwell Hairston, who would be in line to start in Benford’s place.
So the idea of Benford not playing has to concern Bills fans. But McDermott is confident in Hairston, or whoever ends up replacing Benford, if the fourth-year vet can’t go.
“Things come up, and you don’t want them to come up, but it’s football,” McDermott said. “We practiced basically once this week, so it is what it is. It is frustrating, but at the same time it’s next-man up and we’ve been doing that all year, so I’m confident that somebody will step up if that’s what’s needed here.”
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