CINCINNATI -- An already banged-up Buffalo Bills defense suffered another loss in the second quarter of Sunday night's 24-18 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals, when starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard was knocked out of the game with a concussion.
Bernard initially received attention from athletic trainers just over halfway through the second quarter after a scramble by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, a play that Bernard was not involved in. After talking with athletic trainers on the sideline for multiple minutes, Bernard went into the medical tent and later walked into the locker room with a towel on his head. He was officially ruled out at halftime.
The defense was already without linebacker Matt Milano, who suffered a significant right leg injury in Week 5, and also lost cornerback Tre'Davious White (torn right Achilles) for the season, in addition to defensive tackle DaQuan Jones' significant pec injury.
Overall, the Bills' defense had mixed success in limiting the Bengals' offense -- giving up 21 points in the first half -- but adjusted in the second half, limiting Cincinnati to three points. Burrow, however, was able to complete 70.5% of his passes and the Bills did not force a takeaway for a second straight week. They now have three total in the last five games.
Bernard, 24, has played well in the starting middle linebacker role, taking over for five-year starter Tremaine Edmunds, who signed with the Chicago Bears in the offseason. The 2022 third-round pick leads the Bills in tackles (76) and is tied for second on the team in tackles for loss (six). He also receives the defensive play calls.
Without Bernard, the Bills used their dime package some and rookie Dorian Williams joined Tyrel Dodson at linebacker, with Dodson taking over the responsibility of communicating the defensive plays. Dodson finished with seven tackles, including two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit.
To add to the Bills' defensive injuries, starting cornerback Christian Benford did not play in the second half due to a right hamstring injury that he tweaked, per coach Sean McDermott. Benford said after the game that he didn't know when the injury took place, but it felt "weird, just not normal."
"Gotta figure it out tomorrow, I don't really know too much right now," Benford said.
The Bills employed an outside cornerback rotation, but Benford's injury in part led to new Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas, who was acquired from the Green Bay Packers at the trade deadline, playing an increased number of snaps (59.7%).
Cornerback Dane Jackson also suffered an injury late in the game that led to veteran Josh Norman coming in at corner, but Jackson said after the game that he was "feeling great ... was just a little dizzy."
Safety Micah Hyde (stinger) also left the game early in the fourth quarter and did not return.