Christian Benford, the Buffalo Bills’ only veteran outside cornerback, is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, and honestly, it’s a total head-scratcher. First-year head coach Joe Brady made the announcement after Friday’s practice, but it’s pretty surprising given what we all saw last week. Benford left the last game early, was spotted in a walking boot afterward, and hasn’t shown up at a single practice since. So, is Brady playing some serious mind games, or is he genuinely hopeful his veteran corner can suit up on Sunday?
The Bills’ Depth Chart Crunch
Whether it’s a bluff or true hope, the Bills are almost certainly elevating a defensive back from the practice squad before tomorrow’s deadline. They’ve got Te’Cory Couch, Anthony Kendall, and Kani Walker on the practice squad, plus safety Geno Stone is available. But let’s be real, Couch is the most likely candidate here. He was active just last week, stepping in when Jordan Hancock landed on the Injured Reserve list. It feels like we’re about to see some serious scrambling in that secondary.
The backfield is also looking a little shaky, with Ray Davis listed as questionable for Sunday. Sure, Frank Gore, Jr. could get another call-up, but that would be his third , and final , elevation of the season. It’s way more likely the Bills roll with just two running backs and have Jackson Hawes ready to jump in if they need him. And on the defensive line, T.J. Sanders is doubtful for the game. The second-year defensive lineman had an emergency appendectomy on September 22. He’s been practicing this week, which is great to hear, but an extra week of recovery probably makes the most sense.
Patriots Are Banged Up Too, Though
It’s not just the Bills dealing with injury woes heading into this matchup. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel came out and said straight up that neither cornerback Christian Gonzalez nor defensive tackle Christian Barmore will be playing in Buffalo. So, while the Bills are sweating over “questionable” tags, New England is already down two key guys. This is gonna be a grind, no doubt about it.
This Sunday’s game is shaping up to be a true test of depth for both teams. With so many key players either questionable or out, it’ll be a battle of who can adapt quickest. Keep your eyes peeled for those final roster moves before kickoff, because this one could come down to which team handles their injuries better.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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