Bills Make Final Decision on Key Cornerback for Ravens Game
The Buffalo Bills have been hit hard by injuries in the secondary, but will have their top cornerback on the field when they open the season against the Baltimore Ravens.
The team announced inactives for Sunday night’s game, listing Christian Benford as active after he had missed practices earlier in the week with a groin issue. The Bills are missing both other candidates to start, putting a rookie in position to start in his first NFL game.
Christian Benford Made Late Recovery After Being Sidelined
Benford had been limited in practice to start the week, but was able to participate in full on Thursday and did not have a designation in the final injury report on Friday. Still, his status remained uncertain heading into Sunday night’s game against the Ravens.
The Bills published their list of inactives for Sunday’s game, including wide receiver Curtis Samuel, offensive linemen Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Chase Lundt, defensive end Landon Jackson, cornerback Tre’Davious White, and safety Jordan Hancock.
Benford came to the Bills as a sixth-round pick in 2022 and quickly worked his way up to a starting role, surpassing the team’s first-round pick that season, Kaiir Elam. As The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia noted, Benford has developed into a lockdown cornerback and the best player in Buffalo’s secondary.
“He already put together an incredible season as one of the Bills’ best players in just his third NFL season,” Buscaglia wrote. Benford was one of the best cornerbacks in the league in 2024, proving technically savvy as a high-level zone defender with elite instincts and as someone who has become a great man-coverage defender when asked to do so. He only turns 25 in September, and the shocking part about his game is that he still has room to grow.”
The Bills have a question mark beside Benford in the lineup after a pair of injuries to the other top players. Rookie Maxwell Hairston went down with an injury at training camp and was placed on injured reserve, while veteran Tre’Davious White was also hurt and listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game.
Keon Coleman’s Status in Question
Wide receiver Keon Coleman was also listed on the injury report, which SI.com’s Ralph Ventre pointed out was an injury that likely hit during practice this week.
“The fact that head coach Sean McDermott did not mention Coleman during his pre-practice comments suggests that the wide receiver may have tweaked something while practicing,” Ventre wrote. “The 2024 second-round draft pick holds a starting WR spot on the team’s Week 1 depth chart.”
Coleman is expected to take on a more significant role in the offense after showing promise in an injury-shortened rookie season. Coleman made 29 receptions for 556 yards and four touchdowns despite missing a five-game stretch after injuring his hand in a win against the Miami Dolphins.
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who was hurt during a practice in July and missed a long stretch of training camp and the preseason, was also able to return and listed as active for Sunday’s game against the Ravens. Bills general manager Brandon Beane said he was confident that Shakir could return to his role as the team’s top receiver and that the time missed wouldn’t hurt his connection with quarterback Josh Allen.
49ers' Christian McCaffrey Announces Personal News Ahead of NFL Season
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has shared exciting personal news just ahead of the 2025 NFL season. The star athlete took to social media to announce a major life milestone, drawing attention away from the football field and into his personal life. While McCaffrey's on-field accomplishments are well-known, this announcement adds a new layer to his already highly public career.
Though the specifics of the news have yet to be fully disclosed, McCaffrey hinted that it marks a significant chapter for both him and his family. Fans and teammates alike were quick to show support, celebrating the news as McCaffrey prepares to take on another grueling NFL season.
"This is a special moment in my life, and I’m excited to share it with all of you," McCaffrey shared in his post. "Thank you to everyone for the support—this is just the beginning of what’s to come."
The announcement has fans eagerly anticipating more details and wishing the star running back the best as he enters his next season with the 49ers. On the field, McCaffrey is poised to continue his role as one of the NFL's premier running backs, with expectations high for his contributions to a playoff-bound San Francisco team.
Off the field, this new personal milestone adds another exciting chapter to McCaffrey’s already remarkable journey, further solidifying his status as one of the NFL’s most dynamic and beloved stars.
