Bills Coach Sean McDermott Provides Injury Update on Taron Johnson, Terrel Bernard
The Buffalo Bills got through their first hurdle of the playoffs by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17 in the AFC Wild Card on Monday, but they didn't make it through unscathed.
Taron Johnson
© Mark Konezny, USA TODAY
Multiple key players suffered injuries during the game, not least of which being their lone All-Pro selection this season in cornerback Taron Johnson. Other players banged up include punter Sam Martin, linebacker Baylon Spector and cornerback Christian Benford. Standout linebacker Terrel Bernard was carted off due to an ankle injury in what was the most notable of the team-wide ailments.
The Bills also had a few players miss the game entirely with injuries, such as receiver Gabe Davis and safety Taylor Rapp.
Johnson, 27, left late in the game with an apparent head injury, and Bills coach Sean McDermott confirmed Tuesday that he is in the league's concussion protocol and is "day-to-day" as are all the other players that were listed with injuries.
For Bernard specifically, McDermott said that they're taking it "one day at a time" after the X-rays on his ankle were negative.
Johnson will now have to clear concussion protocol in order to play against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's Divisional Round game. Prior to leaving the game, he recorded two tackles and a forced fumble against the Steelers.
A former fourth-round pick, Johnson just completed the best regular season of his career. The sixth-year corner racked up 98 total tackles, eight passes defended and three forced fumbles while earning second-team All-Pro honors.
The Bills and Chiefs kickoff from Highmark Stadium on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
