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Alaina Getzenberg, ESPN
BUFFALO, NY — The Buffalo Bills have some defensive questions heading into Sunday’s AFC Championship rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Coach Sean McDermott said Monday that starting cornerback Christian Benford is in concussion protocol. He suffered the injury during a late Baltimore Ravens onside kick attempt in the Bills’ divisional-round win Saturday.
Former first-round pick Kaiir Elam recently filled in when one of the team’s outside cornerbacks missed a game; He has made four starts this year. Defensive back Ja’Marcus Ingram is another option if Benford does not clear the protocol.
Along with Benford, starting safety Taylor Rapp is day-to-day, according to McDermott, with a hip injury that forced him out of a 27-25 win over the Ravens in the second quarter. He left on a cart after being examined at the medical tent.
“We will see how [Rapp’s injury] throughout our week,” McDermott said.
Rookie Cole Bishop replaced Rapp the rest of the game. He has four starts this season.
“[Bishop] He did a solid job there. It’s tough, man. It’s tough,” defensive coordinator Bobby Baich said. “You’re playing against special teams, you’re standing on the sideline watching the game, trying to stay in it, but being there with the speed of what’s happening and that kind of thing. It’s that they throw you straight into the fire.
“So he did a good job stepping in. There are a couple of things he could do better than everyone, including me, and it was good to see. All the experience he’s getting is tremendous.”
The Bills will head to Kansas City on Sunday (6:30 p.m. EST, CBS) to play the Chiefs for the fourth time in five postseasons, tying them for the second-most in a five-postseason span in NFL history. Kansas City has won the previous three meetings in that time.
The Bills beat the Chiefs in Week 11, 30-21.