Taylor

Rapp

He underwent knee surgery, and whatever they found, it doesn’t sound like it was good. Rapp has already been placed on IR. Jordan Poyer and Cole Bishop were the main starters at safety last week, with Cam Lewis playing sparingly.

Fellow Bills’ LB Terrel Bernard (ankle) is also questionable, as is rookie CB Maxwell Hairston (knee). DT DaQuan Jones (calf) and S Taylor Rapp (knee) have both been ruled out. The injuries should allow the Panthers to continue running ball efficiently with RBs Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard.

Rapp’s knee injury, which dates back to training camp, had McDermott saying that “it came to a point where he couldn’t be himself.” He’ll miss at least the next four weeks. The seven-year vet has started all six games he’s appeared in for the Bills this season, totaling 26 tackles thus far. Cam Lewis is listed behind Rapp on the depth chart and will likely draw the start in his absence.

Rapp was trending toward missing Sunday’s game after logging back-to-back DNPs to start the week. He will likely miss Friday’s practice as well but will have nearly two full weeks to recover from his injuries if the Bills win to advance to the Super Bowl. Rookie Cole Bishop, who the team selected with the No. 60 overall pick in this year’s draft, will step in to start in place of Rapp. Bishop has totaled 40 tackles and two pass breakups in 16 games for the Bills.

Rapp is now on the wrong side of questionable, beginning the week with two absences. The Bills’ secondary is in rough shape, with two starting cornerbacks also ailing. Hopefully, Rapp can return to practice tomorrow.

The good news is that cornerback Christian Benford was listed as limited, meaning he is already making progress through the league’s concussion protocol. Rapp left the Bills’ Divisional Round game after just 19 snaps and did not return. Rapp appeared in 14 regular season games, totaling six pass breakups and two interceptions. He also picked off Lamar Jackson before leaving with the hip injury.

Benford will have six days to clear protocol before the AFC Championship game. It would be a huge loss for the Bills if they didn’t have their most effective cornerback (78.8 PFF coverage grade) against the Chiefs. Benford played all but one snap against the Ravens in the Wild Card round. McDermott also said that Taylor Rapp (hip) is “day to day” after leaving with just 19 snaps in the first half. Cole Bishop replaced Rapp.

Rapp spent nearly a full defensive series in the Bills’ blue medical tent before being carted to the locker room. Rapp evidently suffered the injury while contributing to a three-player tackle on a Lamar Jackson run, and may have rammed his hip into one of his own teammates in the process. Rapp made his presence felt early, picking off an overthrown pass on the Ravens’ second offensive drive.

The Bills also declared S Damar Hamlin, CB Rasul Douglas, LB Matt Milano, WR Curtis Samuel, DT DeWayne Carter and T Tylan Grable inactive. The Bills’ defense will be without both starting safeties, its No. 2 perimeter CB and its lynchpin LB. The Patriots’ offense should be able to provide at least a few usable fantasy outings in this one.

The Bills’ defense is fairly banged up at this point. Joining Rapp in the questionable column are S Damar Hamlin, LB Matt Milano, CB Rasul Douglas, LB Baylon Specter and LB Dorian Williams. Depending on the game-day inactive list, the Patriots’ offense could have an easier time than expected.