Dorian Williams injury update: Bills LB taken to hospital after scary hit on kickoff vs. Broncos

Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams was taken to a local hospital after a scary hit on the opening kickoff vs. the Denver Broncos, CBS’ Tracy Wolfson reported. He was officially diagnosed with a neck injury.

Williams collided with Broncos returner Marvin Mims on the kickoff to start Saturday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup. Both players walked off the field under their own power and headed to their respective medical tents, the CBS broadcast said.

Buffalo announced Williams is out for the remainder of the game with a neck injury. However, Wolfson noted he boarded the ambulance under his own power – a welcome sign after his injury.

“Bills linebacker Dorian Williams, who took a hard hit to the head on that initial kickoff, was carted into the locker room,” Wolfson reported. “He had imaging done on his neck. And then, he was escorted to an ambulance, walked in under his own power, was taken to a local hospital. I will get you an update when I get it.”

Williams appeared in 16 games for Buffalo during the regular season, largely on special teams. He appeared on 63% of the snaps on special teams, compared to 47% of defensive snaps while lining up at linebacker.

In 2024, Williams turned in the best numbers of his career on defense. He had 117 total tackles, including 68 solo stops and five tackles for loss, along with two quarterback hits in 17 games. He made 11 starts that season, as well.

The Bills drafted Williams in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Tulane, where he was a First Team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2022. That year, he had 132 tackles to go with five sacks and two interceptions as a senior, and he also earned Cotton Bowl MVP as the Green Wave took down USC.

Saturday’s game between the Bills and Broncos at Mile High Stadium kicks off the NFL’s Divisional Round weekend. It’s the first of two games on Saturday, with the San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks as the nightcap at 8 p.m. ET. Two more games then await on Sunday. The Houston Texans will take on the New England Patriots at 3 p.m. ET and the Los Angeles Rams visit the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Buffalo punched its ticket to the next round after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round a week ago. Denver, meanwhile, is playing its first postseason game after securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed.