Injury – Syndication Server

Brandon Beane provides Josh Allen, Christian Benford, Amari Cooper injury updates

It’s not all and well in Buffalo Bills land, but there were some positive updates provided on the health of a few of the team’s top players at least.

General manager Brandon Beane had his end-of-season press conference on Thursday at One Bills Drive. During the slew of questions he answered, injury news was mentioned.

Buffalo’s 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship featured three players getting dinged up: quarterback Josh Allen, cornerback Christian Benford, and wide receiver Amari Cooper.

It was revealed by Allen that he sustained an injury to his right-throwing hand near halftime of the contest. Some speculation has swirled relating to the type of issue, but per Beane, Allen did not break any bones in it.

That update from the GM makes sense as the QB played through the knock in the second half.

As compared to Allen, Benford had a much more serious problem.

Heading into the game, Benford was cleared from a concussion. He sustained another in Kansas City and was forced to leave the contest.

Beane said Benford is still in the concussion protocol, but added he was smiling when he recently saw him and felt that was a good sign of his progress.

Brandon Beane said Josh Allen did not break his hand in the KC game. . . . He also said Christian Benford is “good” but still is in concussion protocol so can’t comment further on his health.

— Mark Gaughan (@gggaughan) January 30, 2025

Meanwhile, Cooper was dealing with an issue that predated the AFC title contest.

Cooper had appeared on injury reports throughout the 2024 season with a wrist injury–after he was acquired via trade.

Cooper evidently had a serious wrist issue because he could have had surgery on it. Instead, he opted to play through it:

Brandon Beane on Amari Cooper trade: “I think you have to look at that from a lot of different angles.”
He starts with Cooper needing time to acclimate with the team and learn the offense.
“Honestly, I think he did a great job learning our offense,” Beane said

— katherine fitzgerald (@kfitz134) January 30, 2025

Bills Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the offseason.

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Bills’ Josh Allen reveals he sustained injury vs. Chiefs

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was evidently dealing with an injury for a portion of his team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.

Following the 32-29 loss, the Bills had locker cleanout day and that’s when players have their end-of-season conversations. Allen had his via press conference and the QB showed up with right-throwing hand wrapped up.

According to Allen, he played half of the contest with the knock. He said that prior to halftime that he sustained the injury on a two-point attempt.

Allen did not want to use that as much of an excuse as he downplayed the issue with reporters:

Bills QB Josh Allen said that’s dealing with a wrist injury from the game last night that he suffered at the goal line on the two-point attempt right before halftime. “Got crunched up a little bit, was able to finish the game, but some swelling and stuff today.”

— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) January 27, 2025

Josh Allen had his right hand wrapped as he spoke to us. In an earlier question, he said he did not anticipate any major medical work this offseason — said later hand and wrist was some swelling https://t.co/0F2rmNA1vC

— katherine fitzgerald (@kfitz134) January 27, 2025

The injury is worth noting because of what hand it was. It could have played a part and bothered him but Allen has always avoided making excuses, especially after a loss.

Allen finished the AFC championship game 22-for-34 passing for 237 passing yards with two touchdowns. He also ran the ball 11 times, including multiple short-yardage situations.

Throughout the 2024 season, Allen did deal with a hand injury but of a different variety. That was his left hand which he does not throw with.

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Bills at Chiefs: Final injury reports for both teams

Here are the full injury reports for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their AFC championship matchup at Arrowhead Stadium:

Buffalo Bills (13-4)

Out

S Taylor Rapp (back/hip)

Questionable

LB Baylon Spector (calf/IR)
CB Christian Benford (concussion)

Will play

S Damar Hamlin (rib)
CB Taron Johnson (neck/shoulder)
LB Matt Milano (bicep/hamstring)
TE Dalton Kincaid (knee)
DB Cam Lewis (shoulder)
OL Connor McGovern (shoulder)
DE Greg Rousseau (finger)
LB Dorian Williams (elbow)
OL Dion Dawkins (illness)

Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

Out

Questionable

Will play

OL Mike Caliendo (shoulder)
QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle)
OL Jawaan Taylor (knee)
CB Jaylen Watson (ankle)

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Could the Bills be down two defensive backs vs. Chiefs?

The Buffalo Bills could have a few untimely injuries ahead of facing the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.

Head coach Sean McDermott provided updates on two of his starting defensive backs during his weekly interview on the team’s radio partner, WGR-550.

McDermott has ruled safety Taylor Rapp out and the status of cornerback Christian Benford could be in doubt.

Rapp has been listed on injury reports this week with a hip injury he sustained in Buffalo’s divisional win over the Baltimore Ravens. Since that same game, Benford has been in the concussion protocol.

Benford is set to miss practice on Friday, the final workouts before the Bills head out to Kansas City. However, McDermott said Benford is missing that workout due to personal reasons.

Ahead of facing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, being down two starting defensive backs is not ideal for Buffalo.

The Bills intercepted Mahomes twice in their 30-21 win over Kansas City during the regular season. One of those two came via Rapp on Mahomes’ first pass attempt.

Without Rapp, it’s expected that rookie Cole Bishop will start.

Both teams will release their full final injury reports later on Friday.

Bills Wire will provide updates when that information is made available.

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Bills at Chiefs: Thursday injury reports for both teams

Here are the full injury reports for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their AFC championship matchup at Arrowhead Stadium:

Buffalo Bills (13-4)

Did not practice

S Taylor Rapp (back/hip)

Limited participation

LB Matt Milano (bicep/hamstring)
CB Christian Benford (concussion)
CB Taron Johnson (neck/shoulder)

Full practice

S Damar Hamlin (rib)
TE Dalton Kincaid (knee)
DB Cam Lewis (shoulder)
OL Connor McGovern (shoulder)
DE Greg Rousseau (finger)
LB Dorian Williams (elbow)
OL Dion Dawkins (illness)

Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

Did not practice

Limited participation

Full practice

OL Mike Caliendo (shoulder)
QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle)
OL Jawaan Taylor (knee)
CB Jaylen Watson (ankle)

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Bills at Chiefs: Wednesday injury reports for both teams

Here are the full injury reports for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs ahead of their AFC championship matchup at Arrowhead Stadium:

Buffalo Bills (13-4)

Did not practice

OL Dion Dawkins (illness)
S Taylor Rapp (back/hip)

Limited participation

LB Matt Milano (bicep/hamstring)
CB Christian Benford (concussion)

Full practice

S Damar Hamlin (rib)
CB Taron Johnson (neck/shoulder)
TE Dalton Kincaid (knee)
DB Cam Lewis (shoulder)
OL Connor McGovern (shoulder)
DE Greg Rousseau (finger)
LB Dorian Williams (elbow)

Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

Did not practice

Limited participation

Full practice

OL Mike Caliendo (shoulder)
QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle)
OL Jawaan Taylor (knee)
CB Jaylen Watson (ankle)

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Bills have a few names to watch on injury report ahead of Chiefs game

Unfortunately, the Buffalo Bills have a few names to watch on their injury report this week ahead of facing the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.

Before the start of preparations for the contest on Wednesday, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott noted three players that are important to keep in mind throughout the coming days. The trio are all from the defense.

Safety Taylor Rapp (hip) left the Bills’ 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round on Sunday and did not return. It appears that linebacker Matt Milano and cornerback Christian Benford were injured during the contest as well, however, the team did not announce in-game updates on them.

On Buffalo’s final injury report ahead of facing Baltimore had both Milano and Benford on it. The difference is that their current injury designations were not the reasons why.

At that time, Milano and Benford were listed as having bicep and back issues, respectively.

Now Milano is dealing with what was described as “hamstring soreness,” according to McDermott.

Meanwhile, Benford is in the concussion protocol.

The coach noted that Milano and Benford would both be limited in practice on Wednesday. Rapp was noted as the only player that would not practice at all.

Bills Wire will provide the latest injury updates from both teams ahead of the Sunday’s AFC title matchup.

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