Buffalo Bills will be without Taylor Rapp for Sunday night’s showdown in Kansas City against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
In what is a major blow so close to the game, head coach Sean McDermott ruled him out on Friday, meaning rookie Cole Bishop is in line to start against the Super Bowl champions.
The winner advances to the Super Bowl on February 9 in New Orleans, and will face either Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Commanders.
There was some good news for the Bills, though.
Linebacker Matt Milano has been limited in practice with a sore hamstring but McDermott expects him to be a full participant in the team’s Friday practice session.
Cornerback Christian Benford is still in concussion protocol after the win over Baltimore Ravens at the weekend and missed Friday practice due to a personal matter, the Bills said.
Buffalo Bills player Taylor Rapp is taken off the field during Sunday’s AFC Divisional round
‘T Rapp will be out, Benford still in concussion protocol but has a personal situation he is tending to,’ McDermott said. ‘He will not be at practice, he has been excused.’
The Chiefs, meanwhile, have yet to deliver an update Friday on the health of their roster but had everyone participating on Thursday.
Rapp injured his hip during last Sunday’s AFC Divisional round game against the Baltimore Ravens.
He went to go in to make a tackle on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, but appeared to jam up his hip when colliding with teammate Damar Hamlin.
Rapp was eventually carted to the locker room during the game and did not return in the Bills’ 27-25 victory.
It’s a huge blow for Buffalo as Rapp was the team’s fourth-leading tackler in the 2024 regular season. He was also second on the team in interceptions with six picks this year.
By comparison, Bishop played in more games (16) than Rapp (14), but only made 40 tackles and didn’t have an interception.
Now, Bishop – the Bills’ second-round pick in this year’s draft out of the University of Utah – will be tasked with defending against the likes of Travis Kelce.
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