ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Bills defense will be without at least one starter for the AFC championship game Sunday at Kansas City.
Safety Taylor Rapp has been ruled out with a hip injury sustained in the divisional playoff win against the Ravens, coach Sean McDermott said Friday.
With Rapp out, rookie safety Cole Bishop will start at safety alongside Damar Hamlin.
Buffalo’s defense is healthier than it was in last year’s divisional playoff loss to the Chiefs when leading linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard did not play, and cornerback Rasul Douglas was limited by a knee injury.
Milano has been limited in practice due to hamstring soreness, but McDermott said Milano would be a full participant on Friday. Defensive back Taron Johnson will be a full participant after being limited Thursday because of neck and shoulder injuries.
Starting cornerback Christian Benford missed Friday’s walk-through practice for personal reasons and has not yet cleared the NFL concussion protocol. Benford, who got hurt while the Bills recovered an onside kick near the end of divisional playoff game, has been a limited participant in practice this week and could still play against the Chiefs.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.