The Buffalo Bills were hit hard by injuries in their playoff opener, losing a pair of wide receivers and seeing QB Josh Allen get battered around, and it didn't take long for injury concerns to surface again on Saturday against the Denver Broncos.
Linebacker Dorian Williams was injured on the opening kickoff after colliding with Broncos returner Marvin Mims, who was also shaken up.
Williams was able to walk off the field with assistance, but he was taken to a local hospital shortly after exiting the game.
Here are the latest updates on Williams' condition after Saturday's injury.
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What happened to Dorian Williams?
Williams took a helmet-to-helmet hit on the opening kickoff, colliding with the head of Mims as the Broncos returner charged up the field at full speed.
The tackle stopped Mims and ended the play, but Williams was down on the field for a handful of minutes before walking off with assistance.
Shortly after coming off the field, Williams was carted back to the locker room and then taken to the hospital by ambulance with a neck injury, according to the CBS broadcast.
Watch Bills-Broncos opening kickoff
Here's a look at the opening kickoff that left Williams injured:
Dorian Williams got hurt on the first play of the game pic.twitter.com/b0DTTiEooN
— Dos (@Dos_knowsball) January 17, 2026
Williams was sitting upright and without assistance as he was carted back to the locker room.
Dorian Williams carted to the locker room pic.twitter.com/BArY8SmF4D
— Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) January 17, 2026
MORE: Why Broncos passed on Josh Allen in 2018 draft
Dorian Williams injury
Williams is dealing with a neck injury, the CBS broadcast said Saturday. It's unclear whether he was evaluated for or diagnosed with a concussion after the helmet-to-helmet collision with Mims, but the Bills announced the injury as a neck issue and ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
Updates will be added as they become available.
Dorian Williams number
Williams wears No. 42 for the Bills.
MORE: Revisiting Josh Allen's college career
Who is Dorian Williams?
Williams is a third-year linebacker who was selected No. 91 overall out of Tulane in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Primarily a reserve in his rookie season, Williams jumped into a more prominent role with 11 starts after an injury to Matt Milano in 2024. He started nine games this season and was typically a part-time player, playing only 37.5 percent of snaps in Buffalo's playoff win over the Jaguars, but he was in line for a role in Saturday's game with LB Terrel Bernard out for the Bills.
Milano and veteran Shaq Thompson entered Saturday as Buffalo's time off-ball linebackers with Bernard out.