Christian Benford Injury News & Updates

Benford (groin) was limited during Monday's walkthrough practice, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.

A groin injury prevented Benford from playing against the Dolphins in Week 10, but he was cleared to play in Sunday's 44-32 win over the Buccaneers, when he logged one solo tackle while playing every single defensive snap. Seeing as he didn't miss a snap on defense Week 11, Benford will likely be available for Thursday's game against the Texans, though he'll have two more opportunities to increase his practice participation.

Benford (groin) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

Benford was inactive for last Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, missing his first game of the season. In his absence, Maxwell Hairston, Tre'Davious White and Cam Lewis dominated cornerback snaps, with Ja'Marcus Ingram seeing 11 defensive snaps as the fourth corner. A limited start to the practice week would seem to suggest Benford has a chance to return this week against Tampa Bay.

Benford (groin) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

The starting cornerback popped up on the injury report Wednesday after playing 100 percent of the defensive snaps against the Chiefs in Week 9. Benford has played on most of the defensive snaps this season for the Bills. In his absence, rookie first-round pick Maxwell Hairston should see more playing time.

Benford (groin) will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Bills coach Sean McDermott said Friday, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.

Benford is scheduled to be a limited participant in practice Friday, which would match Wednesday's participation level. The starting cornerback didn't practice Thursday. If Benford can't play Sunday, speedster Maxwell Hairston could see additional playing time as the Bills try to slow down Jaylen Waddle.

Benford (groin) did not practice Thursday.

Benford was limited in practice Wednesday, so it's possible he may have suffered a setback with his groin injury. The starting cornerback played 100 percent of defensive snaps during Buffalo's impressive win over the Chiefs in Week 9. Unless Benford is able to retake the practice field as at least a limited participant Friday, he could be in danger of sitting out Sunday's road matchup against the Dolphins.

Benford (groin) was limited in practice Wednesday.

Benford played 100 percent of defensive snaps during Buffalo's win over the Chiefs in Week 9, a contest in which he tallied three tackles (two solo) including his first sack of the season. He'll look to ramp up his activity level at practice and gain clearance in time for Sunday's road divisional matchup against the Dolphins.

Benford recorded seven tackles (five solo) during Buffalo's win over the Ravens on Sunday.

Benford had been dealing with a groin injury last week but that seemingly didn't hamper the 25-year-old has ended up learning the team in tackles. He will look to build off this strong performance and keep producing as the regular season gets further underway.

Benford (groin) was a full practice participant Thursday.

Benford was limited Wednesday but faced no limitations one day later, indicating that he should be good to go for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Ravens. Benford could play a key role out of the gate with Buffalo banged up in the secondary.

Benford (groin) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

Benford hasn't fully practiced since Aug. 21, but a limited session to start the week would seem to put him on track for Sunday night's Week 1 opener against the Ravens. With Maxwell Hairston (knee, IR) and Tre'Davious White (groin, DNP) ailing, the Bills badly need Benford to be ready.

Benford (undisclosed) hasn't practice since Aug. 21 during training camp, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.

Benford is Buffalo's top cornerback, a position that has been ravaged by injuries in Buffalo this summer. First-round rookie Maxwell Hairston is on the IL for a LCL injury to his right knee, and veteran Tre'Davious White has a lower-leg injury that also has him sidelined. The Bills desperately need Benford to be ready for Sunday night's Week 1 opener against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.

Benford and the Bills have agreed upon a four-year, $76 million extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Benford was widely considered a Pro Bowl snub last season after putting together a standout campaign that included the sixth-highest PFF grade (79.3) among NFL cornerbacks. The Villanova product finished the regular season with a career-high 64 tackles, including his first NFL sack, 10 pass defenses (including two interceptions) and two forced fumbles over 15 contests. Benford was set to enter 2025 on the final season of his rookie contract, but with the extension he'll now be a core member of Buffalo's defense for the foreseeable future.

Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that Benford has cleared concussion protocol and has resumed football activities, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Benford suffered a concussion during the first quarter of the Bills' AFC Championship loss to the Chiefs, and it wasn't until about a week after the game that he cleared protocol, per Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo. Benford finished the 2024 regular season with a career-high 64 tackles (50 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 pass defenses (including two interceptions) and two forced fumbles over 15 games.

Benford (concussion) recorded 64 total tackles (50 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 passes defended, with two interceptions, and two forced fumbles over 15 regular-season games in 2024.

The third-year pro from Villanova started all 15 regular-season games he appeared in for the Bills this season, serving as one of the team's top outside cornerbacks. Benford tied his career highs in passes defended, interceptions and forced fumbles in 2024 while setting a new personal best in total tackles, which included the first full sack of his career. He's entering the final season of his rookie contract in 2025, making it likely he returns to Buffalo. Don't be surprised if Benford gets extended by the Bills at some point this offseason, having just led his team in passes defended and interceptions in 2024.

Benford (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against Kansas City.

Benford suffered a blow to the head in the first quarter, quickly being diagnosed with a concussion. The defensive back suffered a concussion in the team's AFC divisional-round matchup with the Ravens and his status moving forward will now be in question if the Bills advance to the Super Bowl. In Benford's absence, Cam Lewis and Kaiir Elam will see an uptick in usage in the secondary versus Kansas City.

Benford (concussion/personal) is active for Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Chiefs.

Benford was placed in concussion protocol after Buffalo's wild-card win against the Ravens last Sunday. The third-year cornerback was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, and he missed Friday's session for personal reasons. Benford should be ready to hold down his starting spot opposite cornerback Rasul Douglas, leaving Buffalo without just one starter in its secondary, as strong safety Taylor Rapp (hip) has already been ruled out.

Benford (concussion/personal) did not practice Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs.

Benford remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, and after logging back-to-back limited practices he missed Friday's session for personal reasons. He'll need to gain full medical clearance, including from an independent neurologist, in order to be eligible for Sunday's road game against Kansas City. On a positive note for the Bills, fellow starting cornerback Taron Johnson (neck/shoulder) has been cleared to face the Chiefs, though safety Taylor Rapp (hip/back) is ruled out.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Friday that Benford (concussion/personal) will not practice due to personal reasons and remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, Maddy Glab of the team's official site reports.

Benford already faces the task of gaining full clearance from the concussion protocol if he's going to suit up for Sunday's road AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs, and a personal issue now adds an additional wrinkle to his potential availability. With Taylor Rapp (hip/back) ruled out to face Kansas City, it would be a notable boost for Buffalo's secondary if Benford does manage to take the field.

Benford (concussion) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.

Benford entered concussion protocol following the Bills' divisional-round win against the Ravens. He's been a limited participant in the first two practices of the week, and he'll have to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to play in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs. Benford has accumulated nine tackles (six solo) across Buffalo's two playoff games.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Benford practiced in a limited capacity and remains in the concussion protocol, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.

Benford is making progress as he works to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol in time for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs. The starting cornerback will need to gain full clearance from the protocol in order to be eligible to play Sunday, including from an independent neurologist. He's currently following a similar trajectory to Ray Davis, who sustained a concussion during Buffalo's wild-card win over Denver but gained clearance in time for the AFC Divisional Round.

Head coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday that Benford is in concussion protocol, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.

Despite being placed in the concussion protocol, Benford played 98 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps and recorded five total tackles in the divisional round win over the Ravens. The third-year pro from Villanova has started all 17 games he's appeared in this season, making his potential absence a significant loss for Buffalo in the AFC Championship game against the Chiefs. Benford must clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol to be eligible to play Sunday.

Benford finished Sunday's 40-14 win over the Jets with two solo tackles and one interception.

Benford recorded his second interception of the season Sunday, when he jumped in front of an Aaron Rodgers pass intended for Allen Lazard midway through the fourth quarter. Benford's 24-yard returned, coupled with an unnecessary roughness penalty on Rodgers, set the Bills up in Jets territory, and Buffalo capitalized on the good field position with a five-play drive that ended with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen to Amari Cooper to extend the lead to 19 points. Benford is up to 64 tackles (50 solo), including 1.0 sacks, 10 pass defenses (including two interceptions), two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery through 15 regular-season games. It's unclear how much work Benford and the rest of the Bills' defensive starters will see against the Patriots in Week 18 since Buffalo is locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC heading into the playoffs.

Benford logged six tackles (five solo), including 1.0 sacks, a pass deflection and a forced fumble during Buffalo's win over Detroit on Sunday.

Benford had a dominant outing during Sunday's victory as he recorded the first sack of his career. The 24-year-old will look to build off this strong performance and keep producing during the team's Week 16 matchup versus the Patriots.

Benford finished with eight tackles (six solo) and two pass breakups in Sunday's 44-42 loss to the Rams.

The cornerback set season highs in both categories. In total, Benford has 52 tackles (41 solo) and eight pass breakups, including an interception, on the year. He has also played on at least 85 percent of the defensive snaps in all 12 games he's suited up for this season.

Benford (wrist) was estimated as a full participant for Buffalo's walk-through practice Wednesday.

Benford sat out of Sunday's game versus the Dolphins with a wrist injury, but Wednesday's injury report bodes well for his chances of suiting up in Week 10. If he can practice in full Thursday or Friday, he'll probably be able to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.

Benford (wrist) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

After logging a full practice Wednesday, Benford was limited Thursday and Friday and was listed as questionable. Kaiir Elam and Ja'Marcus Ingram look to be next in line for snaps at cornerback for Buffalo.

Benford (wrist) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Dolphins.

Benford began the Bills' week of practice as a full participant; however, he downgraded to limited work both Thursday and Friday, suggesting he could be trending toward not playing Sunday. If the third-year cornerback is unable to play in Week 9, expect Kaiir Elam and Ja'Marcus Ingram to see increased snaps with the Bills' first-team defense.

Benford (wrist) was a listed as a limited practice participant on the Bills' injury report Thursday.

Benford was a full practice participant Wednesday, but a wrist injury limited his participation during Thursday's session. Friday's injury report should shed light on the severity of the injury and his chances of playing against Miami on Sunday. If Benford cannot play, Cam Lewis figures to be the top candidate to start at corner alongside Rasul Douglas and safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin.

Benford racked up seven tackles (six solo), one pass defensed and one interception during Thursday's 31-10 win over the Bills.

Benford is flying under the radar as one of the best zone-coverage cornerbacks in the league, and his pairing with Rasul Douglas allowed the Bills to limit Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to 65 combined receiving yards Thursday. The 2022 sixth-round pick's tackle totals won't always be so high, but he'll have another favorable matchup on deck Week 3 versus Jacksonville.

Benford (knee) finished the 2023 regular season with 54 tackles, 10 passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles an a fumble recovery over 15 games.

The Bills cut longtime starter Tre'Davious White in the offseason for cap purposes, leaving Benford (who started 14 regular-season games last season) and Rasul Douglas as the likely starters entering the next campaign, though the do-it-all Taron Johnson often sees work as a corner. Buffalo is out of cap space and seems likely to draft a receiver with its first-round pick, so perhaps the only real competition for Benford's job during training camp will come from 2022 first-rounder Kaiir Elam, a player that's disappointed to date and saw action in only three regular-season games last season. Benford did miss the team's playoff loss to the Chiefs due to a knee injury, though there's no word that his summer participation is under any sort of risk.

Benford (knee) is out for Sunday's game versus the Chiefs, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Benford will be unavailable for the divisional round due to a knee injury he sustained during Monday's win versus the Steelers. In his stead, Dane Jackson could see an expanded role Sunday.

Benford (knee) didn't participate in Thursday's practice.

The second-year cornerback out of Villanova exited Buffalo's wild-card win after suffering a knee injury and he's now began the team's week of practice with two consecutive DNPs. Benford will almost certainly carry an injury designation into the weekend unless he's able to practice in full Friday.

Benford (knee) won't practice Wednesday, Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com reports.

Benford injured his knee in Monday's 31-17 wild-card round win over the Steelers. Buffalo will host the Chiefs in the divisional round Sunday, and Benford could still avoid the injury report by returning to practice Thursday or Friday.

Benford is considered questionable to return to Monday's wild-card matchup with the Steelers due to a knee injury.

There is no word on the severity of Benford's injury at this time. While he is sidelined, Siran Neal, Dane Jackson, Cam Lewis and Kaiir Elam are candidates to see extra snaps at cornerback.

Benford recorded a solo tackle, an interception and two pass deflections in Sunday's 31-10 win over the Cowboys.

Benford was able to pick off Dak Prescott in the fourth quarter, securing his first interception of the season. The cornerback has produced 40 tackles, eight pass deflections and a forced fumble along with the interception over 12 games in his sophomore campaign with Buffalo.

Benford (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets.

The second-year cornerback out of Villanova was limited both Wednesday and Thursday, but he was able to log a full practice session Friday and is now in line to play this Sunday. Benford has started all eight games he's appeared in for the Bills this season, recording 30 total tackles and five pass deflections.

Benford (hamstring) was a limited participant at the Bills' walkthrough practice Wednesday.

It's a step forward for Benford, who was unable to practice last week before sitting out of Monday's loss versus the Broncos. If he can upgrade to full participation Thursday or Friday, he may be able to avoid carrying an injury designation into the weekend.

Benford (hamstring) has been downgraded to out for Monday's game against the Broncos.

Benford was unable to practice all week. The Bills' depth at secondary will be thin with both Benford and Micah Hyde (neck) ruled out for Monday's game. Dane Jackson, Cam Lewis and Siran Neal are all candidates for more cornerback depth snaps behind starters Taron Johnson and Rasul Douglas with Benford sitting out.

Benford (hamstring) will not practice Thursday, according to head coach Sean McDermott, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Benford suffered the injury during Sunday's loss to the Bengals and will need at least one more day to recover before returning to practice. With the Bills not playing until Monday against the Broncos, the Villanova product will have an extra day to recover and get back out onto the field.

Benford sustained a right leg injury during Sunday's loss to Cincinnati, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Benford tallied three tackles (two solo) during Sunday's matchup but revealed after the game that he's dealing with a leg issue. He'll be evaluated further Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

Benford (shoulder) practiced in full all three days this week and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Giants, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.

Benford missed last week's game in London against the Jaguars, and his absence -- combined with Tre'Davious White (knee) being out for the season -- was significant, as Calvin Ridley was running all over the field for most of the game. Benford should settle back into a starting spot, with Dane Jackson and Taron Johnson filling out the primary corner coverage.

Benford (shoulder) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Chris Brown of the Bills Radio Network reports.

Benford wasn't able to suit up for Sunday's loss to the Jaguars, but he appears ready to take on the Giants in Week 6. The second-year pro's return will be a notable boon for Buffalo's secondary, especially with Tre'Davious White (Achilles) already out for the season.

Benford (shoulder) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London.

Taron Johnson will occupy his usual role as the Bills' slot corner, but Buffalo will be breaking in two new starters on the outside in Kaair Elam and Dane Jackson while Benford and Tre'Davious White (Achilles) are sidelined. While Jackson is expected to become a fixture in the starting lineup with White lost for the season, Elam could soon be relegated to a depth role if Benford's injury is a short-term concern, as expected. Before being included on the inactive list, Benford had been listed as questionable heading into Sunday after turning in a trio of limited practices during Week 5 prep.

Benford (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

Given that Benford was able to play through the injury in Week 4, he should be considered to be on the 'probable' end of the questionable designation for Sunday. If he sits out though, Dane Jackson would likely be in line for an expanded role.

Benford (shoulder) was limited during practice Wednesday, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Benford, who suffered the injury during the team's win over the Dolphins on Sunday, was wearing a red non-contact jersey during practice. The second-year pro was labeled as day-to-day by head coach Sean McDermott, so it does seem like there's still a chance the Villanova product could suit up in Week 5 against the Jaguars. However, he'll likely need to shed that non-contact jersey Thursday or Friday.

Head coach Sean McDermott said Monday that Benford is currently day-to-day with a shoulder injury, Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News reports.

Benford hurt his shoulder during Sunday's win against the Dolphins and is now questionable for the upcoming game against the Jaguars. With Tre'Davious White (Achilles) out for the year, Buffalo could be extremely thin at corner if the 23-year-old Benford is unable to play.

Benford (shoulder) has returned to Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Benford underwent an X-ray after taking a hit from Raheem Mostert in the first half. Although the X-ray results are unknown, it would seem that they were negative, after Benford took the field on special teams. However, it's worth noting that Dane Jackson is still playing over him at corner.

Benford (shoulder) is questionable to return Sunday versus the Dolphins.

Benford took a hard hit from Dolphins' running back Raheem Mostert and he's set to undergo an X-ray on his shoulder. Dane Jackson replaced him in Buffalo's secondary.

Coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday that Benford will start in Monday's game at the Jets, Ryan O'Halloran of The Buffalo News reports.

In a surprising turn of events, the 2022 sixth-rounder beat out 2020 seventh-rounder Dane Jackson and 2022 first-rounder Kaiir Elam for the honor of starting at cornerback in Week 1. Both Jackson and Elam played more snaps than Benford last season, and the latter also represents a much larger investment in terms of draft capital. Whether the starter designation indicates a true full-time role remains to be seen, but it's clear Coach McDermott likes what he has in his sophomore corner out of Villanova.

The Bills activated Benford (oblique) from IR on Friday, Chris Brown of the team's official site reports.

Benford has been sidelined on IR since suffering an oblique strain during the Week 12 win over Detroit. The rookie cornerback was then designated to return to practice Dec. 29, and he should now be available to play heading into the regular-season finale versus New England. Benford has recorded 24 tackles and five passes defended, including one interception, across nine games this season, and he'll likely slot back into a primary reserve role alongside cornerbacks Taron Johnson and Kaiir Elam.

The Bills announced Thursday that Benford (oblique) has been designated for a return to practice from IR.

Benford landed on IR after suffering an oblique injury Thanksgiving versus the Lions, but he's now eligible to retake the field as early as Monday's game against Cincinnati. The rookie sixth-round pick has a 21-day practice window where he can be evaluated without counting against the active roster.

Buffalo moved Benford to injured reserve Saturday.

Benford suffered an oblique injury on Thanksgiving against the Lions and was initially said to be week-to-week. Now that he's been placed on IR, the cornerback will miss at least four games. Prior to the injury, Benford had logged at least 23 defensive snaps in all but one of the contests in which he played this season, and he had totaled 24 tackles (17 solo) and one interception across nine games.

Benford suffered an oblique injury in Thursday's 28-25 win over the Lions, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Benford played 32 snaps while tallying four tackles prior to exiting the game. There was no official diagnosis provided, though coach Sean McDermott noted that Benford is week-to-week. That puts his status for Thursday's Week 13 matchup against the Patriots in serious jeopardy.

Benford totaled seven tackles (five solo), three passes defended and one interception in Sunday's 33-30 loss to the Vikings.

Benford snagged his first interception of the 2022 season and also set a season high with three passes defended. He's seen his playing time increase dramatically over the last few weeks, with his snaps jumping from 37 to 77 in the span of one week.

Benford doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's matchup against the Chiefs.

Benford will return to action in Week 6 after missing the previous two games due to a hand injury. The rookie sixth-round pick had to battle for a roster spot, but he's been thrust into an expanded role for Buffalo's injury-depleted secondary.

Benford, who has missed the past two games with a hand injury, returned to a limited practice Wednesday, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.

Benford has quickly gone from a sixth-round rookie who had to fight for a spot on the team to a key contributor for an injury-depleted secondary. Fellow rookie Kaiir Elam has played so well that Benford may not be a shared starter when he returns, but he's proven capable enough that he'll see the field plenty for the rest of the season.

Benford (hand) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Benford sustained a fractured hand in the Bills' Week 3 loss to the Dolphins and required surgery. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return to the field, but Kaiir Elam and Cam Lewis will likely see increased run against Pittsburgh.

Benford will need surgery to repair the fractured hand he suffered in the team's loss to the Dolphins on Sunday, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Benford is looking at a multi-week absence, although an exact timetable for his return is not yet known. With Dane Jackson's (neck) status still up in the air, and Tre'Davious White (knee) certain to miss next week, the Bills are looking thin in the secondary. If Jackson is unable to return Sunday against the Ravens, Ja'Marcus Ingram will likely be looking at extra opportunity.

Benford fractured his hand in Sunday's 21-19 loss to the Dolphins, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A timetable for the rookie cornerback's return has yet to be established, but Benford's most likely facing a multi-week absence. Ja'Marcus Ingram took over after Benford got hurt in Miami, and Ingram will likely continue to play a larger role while Benford recovers.

Benford (hand) returned for the second half of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Benford lined up for the second half kickoff with his right hand wrapped, though he came back out once the Bills defense took the field. Instead, Ja'Marcus Ingram appears set to step in at cornerback for the remainder of Sunday's contest, per Getzenberg.

Benford (hand) is questionable to return for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Benford was expected to step in as one of the Bills' starting cornerbacks with Dane Jackson (neck) ruled inactive ahead of Sunday's contest. With the rookie's status now up in the air as well, expect Taron Johnson and Kaiir Elam to work as the team's primary cornerback duo against the Dolphins' talented corps of pass catchers.

With cornerback Dane Jackson ruled out for Sunday with a neck injury, Benford is in line to start at cornerback against the Dolphins, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Technically, Benford has already been starting, as he and fellow rookie Kaiir Elam have been serving as co-starters opposite Jackson while stud corner Tre'Davious White is on IR. However, Benford has gotten more snaps (86 to 65) than Elam. It's a pretty impressive accomplishment for Benford, considering he's a sixth-round rookie out of Villanova while Elam comes with a first-round pedigree. Both players are sure to be involved in plenty of action Sunday trying to stop the Dolphins' dynamic duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, which could lead to more tackles than is normally expected from the corner spots. Through two games, Elam has posted six tackles and one pass defensed.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said Monday that he'll "mix things up" between rookies Benford and Kaiir Elam in Thursday's opener against the Rams, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Benford did well just to make the team as a sixth-round rookie, and now he's moved himself into at least a substitutional role for a strong Buffalo defense. Starter Tre'Davious White (knee) is out for at least the first four games while Dane Jackson has apparently won the other corner spot. Elam is the highly prized rookie as the team's top 2022 pick, but Benford also had a strong summer and has earned a right to show what he can do as the regular season unfolds.

The Bills selected Benford in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 185th overall.

A four-year player at Villanova, Benford has solid instincts and impressive ball skills, as he finished with 137 tackles, 47 pass breakups and 14 interceptions through 36 games. The Bills selected Kaiir Elam in the first round of this year's draft to add to a deep cornerback room, so Benford will need a strong training camp to earn a roster spot.