ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A Buffalo Bills defense riddled with injuries suffered another significant loss Monday as starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard was taken off the field on a cart in the third quarter of the team's 31-17 win in the wild-card playoff game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bernard was ruled out of the remainder of the game after receiving X-rays on his right ankle. He suffered the injury on a pass from quarterback Mason Rudolph to wide receiver Diontae Johnson in the middle of the field for a gain of 19 yards. Bernard went down after making the tackle on Johnson and remained on the ground appearing in pain after the play. He was attended to by athletic trainers, and the cart soon came out on the field for him.
He left the field on the cart with a towel over his head and what appeared to be an air cast on his right leg. Bills coach Sean McDermott said after the game that he had no updates, as he had yet to speak with athletic trainers. Bernard was in the locker room with crutches and a walking boot.
"[Bernard's] play speaks for itself, and the year that he's had as a young player stepping in with basically no experience and leading our defense, not only being productive, but also the leadership aspect of the job at the middle linebacker position," McDermott said.
Bernard has been one of the keys to the Bills' defense, taking over for five-year starter Tremaine Edmunds after he left for the Chicago Bears in free agency. Bernard's strong second season in the NFL included three interceptions, five passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, 6.5 sacks and 143 tackles. He had a fumble recovery, two passes defensed and four tackles before leaving the game.
The Bills have a variety of injuries at the linebacker position with starter Matt Milano out since Week 5, Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) not playing Monday and Baylon Spector suffering a back injury during the game and not returning. Rookie Dorian Williams finished the game alongside veteran A.J. Klein, who re-signed to the team's practice squad this week and took over the middle linebacker role and received the playcalls from McDermott.
"Literally off the couch last week, coming in and playing MIKE and playing extremely well for us, too, [Klein is] a guy that we trust going into the game and a guy who's seen a lot of football, and he helped us, helped us big today in a victory," safety Jordan Poyer said.
The number of defensive injuries heading into next week's game against the Kansas City Chiefs is significant. Nickel corner Taron Johnson (evaluated for a head injury) and cornerback Christian Benford (knee) also left Monday's game with injuries, and cornerback Rasul Douglas missed the game due to a knee injury.
"We'll just have to sit down with [head athletic trainer] Nate [Breske] tomorrow and just try and see who's healthy and when they'll be healthy, if they're not healthy, and then see what jersey numbers we have and kind of go from there," McDermott said.