Orchard Park, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford sustained a head injury on his final play of Sunday’s Divisional round game when the Baltimore Ravens attempted an onside kick, coach Sean McDermott said on Monday.

Ravens linebacker Kristian Welch tried running through a Benford block and delivered a head-to-head hit on the Bills defensive back.

Benford is in the NFL’s concussion protocol, and his status is in question for this Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. If Benford can’t play this weekend, it would be the second straight season he was unavailable in a playoff matchup against Kansas City.

The Bills have relied on Benford’s elite coverage ability this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Benford allowed .51 yards per coverage snap in the regular season. That number ranked third among all NFL cornerbacks.

If Benford can’t play, third-year cornerback Kaiir Elam, who the Bills drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft, could be next in line. Elam has struggled to earn a consistent role on the team, with starters Benford and veteran Rasul Douglas as Buffalo’s top boundary cornerbacks. Elam has been inactive five of the Bills’ last eight games. He played for an injured Douglas in Week 14 and 15, but went back to inactive the following week.

Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said he believes in Elam – like all his players – and if Benford can’t go it’s on the first-year DC to get Elam or whoever fills in ready to play.

“It is an opportunity for somebody else. The standard’s the standard, I think you’ve heard that plenty of times here,” Babich said. “You better have (players) ready to go.”

Bills starting safety Taylor Rapp left Sunday’s game with a hip injury and needed to be carted back to the locker room. McDermott said that he’s considered day-to-day. When he left the game, rookie Cole Bishop entered and played in his place.

McDermott was asked if veteran safety Micah Hyde, who’s on Buffalo’s practice squad, could be an option to replace Rapp if he’s unable to play this weekend. McDermott said Hyde will not play against the Chiefs. Bills cornerback Taron Johnson left the game briefly with a shoulder injury but returned and finished. McDermott said he was a little sore Monday but came out of the game OK.