Bills' Davison Igbinosun: Still expected to contribute defensively
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Even with Christian Benford (toe) back from injury, Igbinosun is still expected to have a role in the Bills' secondary for Monday's game against the Rams, Nick Suss of ESPN.com reports.
Igbinosun made his first career start against the Patriots in Week 4 due to the absence of Benford, and the former finished with five tackles (three solo) and one pass defense while playing every single defensive snap. Benford and Maxwell Hairston will serve as Buffalo's starting outside cornerbacks Monday, but head coach Joe Brady is committed to having Igbinosun on the field on defense. The Bills' secondary will have their hands full against the lethal wideout duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
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Bills' Landon Jackson: Questionable for Week 5
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Jackson (knee) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Rams, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Jackson's practice reps were limited due to a knee injury, and his status for Monday's game may not be officially known until the Bills announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff. Ed Oliver (knee) has already been ruled out, so DeWayne Carter and Greg Gaines would both be in line for even more defensive snaps if Jackson is not cleared to play.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Cleared to play Monday
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Benford (toe) does not carry an injury designation into Monday night's game against the Rams, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Benford has been given the green light to return from a one-game absence due to a toe injury that he sustained during the Bills' Week 3 win over the Chargers. He'll resume his starting spot at outside cornerback, and while rookie first-rounder Maxwell Hairston will start opposite Benford, rookie second-rounder Davison Igbinosun will also be involved in the Bills' secondary, per Nick Suss of ESPN.com.
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Bills' Dee Alford: Iffy for MNF
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Alford (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Rams, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Alford sustained an ankle injury during the Bills' Week 4 loss to the Patriots. He was a DNP in each of the first two practices of Week 5 prep, but he earned the questionable tag after getting back to the field for Saturday's session. Damar Hamlin would likely operate as the Bills' slot cornerback if Alford is unable to play Monday.
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Bills' Ed Oliver: Ruled out for MNF
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Oliver (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Monday's game against the Rams, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
The veteran defensive lineman will miss his second game of the season, this time due to a knee injury that he picked up during the Bills' Week 4 loss to the Patriots. DeWayne Carter and Greg Gaines should both see more defensive snaps in the absence of Oliver, whose next chance to play is Week 6 against the Raiders on Sunday, Oct. 18.
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Bills' T.J. Sanders: Appears set for season debut
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Sanders (appendix) practiced in full Thursday.
Sanders missed Week 1 due to a knee injury and then had an appendectomy. He logged two limited practices last week but didn't play versus New England on Sunday. However, with a full practice under his belt to begin Week 5 prep, Sanders is a good bet to suit up Monday night against the Rams.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Returns to practice Thursday
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Benford (toe) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.
Benford suffered a toe injury against the Chargers in Week 3 and didn't practice at all last week. After missing Sunday's matchup against the Patriots, the veteran cornerback was able to return to practice, albeit in a limited capacity, Thursday. The Bills play Monday against the Rams, so Benford will have two more days to try to ramp up to full practice participation and avoid an injury designation ahead of that contest.
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Bills' Dee Alford: Missing practice Thursday
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Alford (ankle) did not participate at practice Thursday, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
Per Lysowski, coach Joe Brady said Thursday that the ankle injury Alford sustained in Week 4 versus New England is not expected to be a long-term problem. The Bills' matchup against the Rams in Week 5 won't kick off until Monday, so Alford will have an extra day to potentially get right in anticipation of that contest.
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Bills' Greg Rousseau: Breaks sack streak in loss
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Rousseau logged four tackles (two solo) and two passes defensed in the Bills' 29-26 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
Rousseau notched 2.0 sacks in each of the first three games of the 2026 regular season. The outside linebacker's historic streak concluded in Week 4, when he was unable to log any sacks over 81 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps. The Bills' lack of defensive pressure against quarterback Drake Maye was a key component in the outcome of the early-season divisional matchup.
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Bills' Dee Alford: Exits game with ankle injury
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Alford (ankle) is questionable to return against the Patriots on Sunday, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
Alford sustained the injury in the second half of Sunday's game, and he's being evaluated by trainers to determine whether he can return. Davison Igbinosun should see more defensive snaps in Alford's absence.
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Bills' Ed Oliver: Leaves game with knee injury
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Oliver (knee) is questionable to return against the Patriots on Sunday, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
With Oliver being evaluated by medical staff and T.J. Sanders (appendix) inactive, the Bills will lean more heavily on DeWayne Carter, Landon Jackson and Greg Gaines on defense.
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Bills' Te'Cory Couch: Likely done for remainder of Week 4
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Couch suffered a hamstring injury Sunday versus New England and is doubtful to return.
Couch was a practice-squad elevation for Week 4. He was slated to potentially pick up some work on defense with Christian Benford (toe) inactive, but now Couch is probably done for the day. With that said, Couch's likely absence will primarily impact Buffalo's special-teams unit.
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Bills' T.J. Sanders: Inactive versus Patriots
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Sanders (appendix) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
Sanders is still healing from appendix surgery on Tuesday, Sep. 22, though he did return to practice Thursday. Landon Jackson may get more playing time alongside Ed Oliver and Deone Walker while Sanders is out.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Unable to practice so far this week
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Benford (toe) did not participate in practice Wednesday or Thursday.
Benford suffered a toe injury during the third quarter of Sunday's Week 3 win over the Chargers and didn't return to the contest. With consecutive DNPs to begin the week of prep, the veteran cornerback's status for Sunday's matchup against the Patriots is looking very iffy. Should Benford not be able to suit up for that game, Davison Igbinosun could draw the start.
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Bills' T.J. Sanders: Returns to practice Thursday
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Sanders (appendix) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Sanders underwent surgery to have his appendix removed on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and he didn't play in Week 3 against the Chargers. The second-year pro didn't practice Wednesday to begin Week 4 prep, but he was able to participate in a limited capacity Thursday. That's a good sign Sanders is healing well, though it remains to be seen if he'll be ready to suit up Sunday versus New England.
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Bills' C.J. Gardner-Johnson: Secures key interception in win
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Gardner-Johnson logged five tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed, including one interception, in the Bills' 24-16 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Quarterback Justin Herbert threw Gardner-Johnson a "meatball sub", according to commentator Tom Brady, early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. The pick resulted in the Bills taking a lead for the first time in the game, with the 17-13 score becoming the closest gap in the remainder of the contest. The safety intercepted the ball at the 1-yard line, likely saving a touchdown or, at the very least, a field goal. Gardner-Johnson played 68 of the team's 69 defensive plays in the contest.
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Bills' Greg Rousseau: Logs third consecutive two-sack performance
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Rousseau logged eight tackles (five solo), including 2.0 sacks, in the Bills' 24-16 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
Rousseau leads the NFL with 6.0 sacks, having logged 2.0 sacks in each of the first three games of the 2026 regular season. The linebacker has had a stunning breakout since switching to coach Jim Leonhard's 3-4 defense. The 26-year-old is entering his sixth NFL season and has begun to make a compelling case that should put him on Defensive Player of the Year ballots if he can keep producing throughout the season.
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Phidarian Mathis: No longer with Buffalo
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The Bills released Mathis on Tuesday, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.
Mathis was reinstated to the Bills' active roster Monday after serving his three-game suspension, but the 2022 second-rounder will not be a member of the team's 53-man roster moving forward. He could remain in Buffalo on the practice squad, but Mathis will have the opportunity to explore his options and should garner interest from teams looking to add depth to the defensive line.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Won't return Sunday
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Benford (toe) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Benford left the game in the third quarter due to a toe injury, which is severe enough for him to be sidelined for the rest of Sunday's contest. Te'Cory Couch and Davison Igbinosun will continue to operate in elevated roles in Benford's absence.
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Bills' Christian Benford: Exits game with toe injury
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Benford (toe) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Benford went to the locker room after sustaining a toe injury in the third quarter, and he'll be evaluated by trainers to determine whether he can return to Sunday's contest. Davison Igbinosun and Te'Cory Couch are in line for more defensive snaps for as long as Benford is out of the game.
