Bills GM explains why LB's injury made him tear up before loss to Chiefs

Bernard suffered the injury during the team's wild-card round victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers and was carted off the field.

The Bills surely could've used the 24-year-old on the field, as their defense surrendered the third-highest number of points of the season in the 27-24 loss and most since Week 12 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. Buffalo allowed the Patrick Mahomes-led offense to post 361 total yards, 215 coming through the air and 146 on the ground.

Neither team had any sacks or interceptions, both of which Bernard had plenty of this season. He had an impact in the win over Pittsburgh as well, finishing with three solo tackles, two passes defended and one fumble recovery despite being limited to 32 defensive snaps.

Bernard was one of the Bills' best defensive players in the regular season, playing and starting all 17 games and leading the squad in combined tackles (143) and fumble recoveries (three). The Baylor product also ranked second in interceptions (three), third in tackles for loss (10) and tied for third in sacks (6.5) while adding five passes defended and nine quarterback hits.

Bernard earned his first AFC Defensive Player of the Week honor following Buffalo's 37-3 rout of the Washington Commanders in Week 3. The former third-round pick tied his career high of 2.0 sacks that day and added two quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass defended and one fumble recovery.