Bills lose rookie safety, All-Pro linebacker to injury in win over Lions

The Buffalo Bills saw two defensive players leave the game with injuries early in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions.

Rookie safety Cole Bishop and veteran linebacker Matt Milano suffered lower-body injuries. Both were labeled questionable to return.

Bishop, starting with Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin both unavailable, went down on a first-down play with lower leg cramps. He was wheeled into the dressing room for treatment.

On the same Lions’ possession, Baylon Spector replaced Milano at linebacker. In his third game back from a preseason biceps injury, Milano exited with a groin problem.

It was Spector’s first action since Week 9. He injured his calf in practice leading up to the Nov. 10 game against Indianapolis and subsequently landed on IR. The former seventh-round draft pick was activated Saturday.

Meanwhile, Kareem Jackson came off the bench in place of Bishop. The 36-year-old veteran made his Bills’ practice squad debut. A first-round pick in 2010, Jackson played in 203 regular-season games before joining Buffalo back in training camp.

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The Lions marched 70 yards into the end zone with the two substitutes on the field. The touchdown cut the Bills’ lead to 38-28 with 12:00 remaining.

Neither Bishop nor Milano returned to the game as Buffalo closed out a 48-42 victory that ended Detroit’s 11-game winning streak.

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