Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford was forced to exit the AFC title game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night due to a concussion. The incident occurred in the first quarter when Benford sustained a helmet-to-helmet hit with teammate Damar Hamlin while attempting to make a tackle.
Despite having cleared the concussion protocol earlier in the week, Benford was deemed unfit to continue just moments after being carted off the field at Arrowhead Stadium. The collision took place as Benford was pursuing Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy along the Bills sideline.
Following the impact, Benford displayed signs of instability upon standing up and tried to rejoin the game. However, his teammate Rasul Douglas intervened, ensuring that Buffalo's medical staff attended to him promptly.
Benford's absence was a significant blow to the Bills, who were relying on him to help defend against the Chiefs' talented group of wide receivers. Prior to his injury, Benford had already showcased his skills by breaking up a deep pass intended for Marquise Brown.
Compounding Buffalo's defensive challenges was the absence of safety Taylor Rapp, who was sidelined due to back and hip injuries. Rapp's presence was sorely missed, especially in containing Chiefs tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray.
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