Thursday’s injury report was a mix of good and not-so-good news for the Buffalo Bills, who are preparing to play in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Highlighting the list was nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, who’s been downgraded to a limited participant in Thursday’s practice.

Johnson injured his left shoulder and briefly left last week’s divisional round game after needing on-field attention from athletic trainers. The concern for Johnson, whose shoulder and arm appeared to land awkwardly, was that he had a dislocation of his shoulder. However, after missing just one play and aided by an offensive drive after that, Johnson returned to play in Sunday’s 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Johnson’s quick return to play plus now appearing in a shoulder harness at the Bills’ Thursday practice would indicate that the injury was a subluxation rather than dislocation. The difference between the partial separation and complete separation is huge when it comes to whether or not Johnson will be ready to play this week.

It would be easy to guess that today’s limitations were due to pain management and making sure swelling is kept at a minimum. As long as the seven-year veteran is at least a limited participant on Friday, he should be in uniform on Sunday.

Other good news for the Bills was that Dion Dawkins was back. The Bills’ left tackle was absent from Wednesday’s practice due to an illness but was back in full force on Thursday.

Matt Milano in a blue jersey was also good news. The linebacker was listed with “hamstring soreness” by head coach Sean McDermott on Wednesday, and, while he’s been limited for two days not being in a non-contact jersey is a sign that he should be ready by game time. Team captain Terrel Bernard seconded that thought when he told members of the media that Milano looked fine to him, that his fellow linebacker “looked like normal.”

One other positive coming out of Bills’ practice on Thursday was that cornerback Christian Benford practiced with the team. Benford was still in a red non-contact jersey, but was wearing a helmet complete with a new accessory — a Guardian Cap.

It would seem that Benford is quite soundly in the fourth step of the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol — participating in football activities. Expect to see the cornerback limited again on Friday with the intent to be cleared to play on Saturday. This is the same program that the Bills used last week with running back Ray Davis.

In the not-so-good news category, we have safety Taylor Rapp who left Sunday’s game early and headed to the locker room via cart right before halftime. Rapp was listed in real time with a hip injury and now with both a back and hip ailment. Review of Sunday’s film shows that while Rapp’s hip appeared to jam as he slid/fell during a tackle, he also took a shot to his lower back from Damar Hamlin’s knee. It’s likely that he has two injuries — with the back injury being more along the lines of the soreness/contusion variety.

It’s hard to believe that Rapp will play Sunday if he doesn’t practice tomorrow, but it’s not impossible. Should the Bills decide he needs to sit, it will be rookie Cole Bishop who’s asked to step into the biggest game of the season so far.

Friday’s practice, and subsequent game-day designations, are going to be very critical in putting together Sunday’s active roster.