A critical injury to the defense’s veteran leader forces rookie Davison Igbinosun into the spotlight as Buffalo scrambles to maintain its momentum following a gritty comeback victory.
In the third quarter of their 26-14 comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Buffalo Bills lost one of their leaders on defense.
Cornerback Christian Benford left the game with what was described as a toe injury. After initially being questionable to return, the team's number one corner was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game. Afterward, while talking on the field, Benford was seen wearing a walking boot on his right foot.
Speaking with the media after the game, head coach Joe Brady said that he hadn't heard anything yet about his status. He added that he'll evaluate the situation and have more information later on.
Brady will speak with the media again on Monday. There could be more information then on Benford's status.
The fifth-year corner suffered a toe strain last season. It wasn't a long-term problem for the 26-year-old, but it did cause him to miss one game.
With Benford out, rookie Davison Igbinosun took over on the boundary. In his first sustained action of the season, the former Ohio State Buckeye had six tackles and a pass breakup. He also went a game without a defensive holding, something he failed to do in the first two weeks.
Should Benford miss time, Igbinosun will be put into a bigger role than many expected this early into the season. While he's not going to be asked to follow a team's top wide receiver, he'll have his chances to prove he can cover him.
It'll also be a big test for Buffalo's other starting corner, Maxwell Hairston. The man who calls himself "the chosen one" is going to be asked to do even more for a Bills defense that played its best game of the season on Sunday afternoon.
All eyes move to Wednesday when Buffalo takes the practice field for the first time this week. Up next? A divisional matchup against the defending AFC East champion New England Patriots, who come to Buffalo with a 1-2 record and their backs against the wall early on.
