The Buffalo Bills will take on the New England Patriots on Sunday without key cornerback Christian Benford, who has been ruled out due to a toe injury sustained during practice. Benford, who had recorded defensive touchdowns in consecutive games, was initially listed as questionable after not participating in practice on Friday. Despite testing his injury before the game, the team decided he could not compete, which is a significant loss for Buffalo’s defense.
In Benford’s absence, rookie Max Hairston will start alongside veteran Tre’Davious White. To bolster the depth at the position, veteran Dane Jackson has been elevated from the practice squad. Benford’s inactive status was anticipated, but the Bills made a surprising decision regarding Gabe Davis, who also found himself on the inactive list. With Joshua Palmer returning to the lineup, Davis was left out, which came as a surprise to many observers.
Inactive Players and Team Updates
Buffalo’s full list of inactive players for the matchup includes:
– CB Christian Benford
– WR Gabe Davis
– OL Chase Lundt
– LB Terrel Bernard
– S Darnell Savage
– OT Tylan Grable
– DT Phidarian Mathis
The team will welcome back Spencer Brown and Joey Bosa for this critical AFC East clash, which adds to the stakes as both teams vie for playoff positioning.
On the other side, the Patriots will also have key players inactive, including:
– OLB Bradyn Swinson
– T Marcus Bryant
– DT Eric Gregory
– TE C.J. Dippre
– WR Efton Chism
– QB Tommy DeVito (Emergency 3rd QB)
Patriots captain Robert Spillane is active despite being listed as questionable with a foot injury earlier in the week.
As the Bills prepare to avenge their Week 5 loss to the Patriots, the absence of Benford and the unexpected scratch of Davis could significantly impact their game plan. The coaching staff will need to adapt quickly to ensure they can secure a victory against a formidable rival. The kickoff is set for 18:00 GMT at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
