Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced on Friday morning that CB Dane Jackson will not play on Sunday afternoon against the Miami Dolphins, meaning rookie corners Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam are in line to get the nod as the two starters.
The next-man-up mindset has Benford and Elam ready to step up in Miami. McDermott expressed his trust across the locker room with multiple position groups also banged up.
"I know we have a number of injuries here, but I remain very confident in our football team, and very confident in the back end," head coach Sean McDermott said.
This week, Benford explained that the transition from not knowing when his name would be called to play, to now filling one of the two starter positions has been a seamless adjustment He felt the experience he had in the first two regular season games, where he rotated in and out with Elam — and action during the preseason — prepared him for this moment.
"It's honestly a blessing to be in this opportunity," Benford said. "A blessing filled with joy and excitement to be 2-0 going into this game and possibly starting. I'm in the position I always wanted to be in."
Benford shared that the Bills' rookies have leaned on each other in the locker room and on the field to help each other get better physically and mentally. One of those rookies being Elam, who is also looking forward to putting his best foot forward against an explosive Miami offense.
"The experience in us, building upon our reps and getting more comfortable out there is something that I think is going to help us prepare for this game," Elam said. "I'm always taking it one step at a time. Just trying to lock in, focus every day and every rep."
The two rookies will be faced with a challenge in stopping Miami's wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, but are going in with a simple mindset to not get overwhelmed.
"Play your game, that's it," Benford said. "You get a feel for your opponent once you're out there. "
The Buffalo Bills practice to prepare for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tremaine Edmunds (49). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Gabe Davis (13), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Mitch Morse (60). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Boogie Basham (55). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40), Shaq Lawson (90). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Baylon Spector (54), Ed Oliver (91), Tim Settle (99). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Mike Love (56). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88), Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Matt Milano (58). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tyler Bass (2). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Boogie Basham (55), A.J. Epenesa (57). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Quintin Morris (85). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Damar Hamlin (3), Dane Jackson (30), Jaquan Johnson (4). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Kyler McMichael (31), Jaquan Johnson (4), Taron Johnson (7). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (28). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ja'Marcus Ingram (46). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tremaine Edmunds (49). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jamison Crowder (80). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tanner Gentry (87). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah McKenzie (6). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah Hodgins (16). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah Hodgins (16). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), Isaiah McKenzie (6). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jake Kumerow (15), Gabe Davis (13), Stefon Diggs (14), Isaiah McKenzie (6). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jamison Crowder (80). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Khalil Shakir (10) Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tommy Sweeney (89). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Case Keenum (18), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Case Keenum (18). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Brandin Bryant (93), Boogie Basham (55), Shaq Lawson (90), DaQuan Jones (92), Ed Oliver (91), Marcus West, Tim Settle (99). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Matthew Smiley. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Matt Barkley (11). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ja'Marcus Ingram (46). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Shaq Lawson (90). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Prince Emili (94), Marcus West. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Terrel Bernard (43), Zach Davidson (84). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tyrel Dodson (53). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Brandin Bryant (93). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Zack Moss (20), Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jaquan Johnson (4),Quintin Morris (85). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Boogie Basham (55). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Brandin Bryant (93), Boogie Basham (55), Matt Milano (58), C.J. Brewer (98). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Devin Singletary (26), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Duke Johnson (22). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Cam Lewis (39). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Matt Barkley (11). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Von Miller (40), Ed Oliver (91), Greg Rousseau (50), Tremaine Edmunds (49). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17), Devin Singletary (26). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Boogie Basham (55). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Cam Lewis (39). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jordan Poyer, Jaquan Johnson (4), Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
David Quessenberry (77). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
DaQuan Jones (92), Tremaine Edmunds (49), Von Miller (40). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tyler Matakevich (44), Terrel Bernard (43). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Reggie Gilliam (41). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
DaQuan Jones (92), Boogie Basham (55). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Sam Martin (8), Tyler Bass (2). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), Chad Hall. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Sam Martin (8). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Gabe Davis (13), Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jamison Crowder (80). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (28). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah McKenzie (6). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Gabe Davis (13), Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ryan Bates (71), Tyrel Dodson (53). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah McKenzie (6). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79), Ryan Bates (71), Greg Van Roten (75), Rodger Saffold (76), Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah McKenzie (6), Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14), James Cook (28). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Christian Benford (47), Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
James Cook (28). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Reid Ferguson (69). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Bobby Babich. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Cam Lewis (39). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Devin Singletary (26). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Jordan Poyer. Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Quintin Morris (85). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Tavon Austin (86), Jamison Crowder (80). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Ja'Marcus Ingram (46). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Reggie Gilliam (41). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Isaiah Hodgins (16). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Week 3 practice, September 22, 2022 at One Bills Drive.
