The Buffalo Bills usually just call him IGB.
Everyone else may need to learn Davison Igbinosun pretty quickly.
Christian Benford's toe injury could thrust the rookie cornerback into a much bigger role Sunday
against the New England Patriots.
Benford left Sunday's 24-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers during the third quarter and was later seen wearing a walking boot.
If Benford can't play, Buffalo at least got an encouraging preview of what Igbinosun can provide.
Justin Herbert made sure of that almost immediately.
On the first snap after Benford left the game, Herbert went deep for Quentin Johnston against Igbinosun.
The rookie broke it up. Two plays later, the Chargers punted.
Igbinosun finished with six tackles and one pass breakup while helping Buffalo's defense close out its best performance of the young season.
Pro Football Focus gave him a 91.1 overall grade, the highest among Bills defenders in the game.
The Bills may need him to do it again.
"We've been saying all along, just getting those guys opportunities," Bills head coach Joe Brady said. "There's going to come a time we're going to need that. As you guys are learning, IGB, that guy definitely doesn't blink. He's as confident as can be and love that about him."
The confidence showed up in more than coverage.
After Josh Allen lost a fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter, the Chargers took over at the Buffalo 28 while leading 13-10.
Herbert completed a short pass to running back Keaton Mitchell on the first play of the possession. Igbinosun closed quickly and made the open-field tackle for no gain.
With less than three minutes remaining and Los Angeles in the red zone, Herbert completed a pass to Tre Harris in space. Igbinosun held him to a 3-yard gain.
"There’s one play of IGB that stands out, a tackle on the sideline," Brady said. "We've been saying all along, just getting those guys opportunities. There's going to come a time we're going to need that."
That time could be this week.
Veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson said he pulled Igbinosun and second-year cornerback Maxwell Hairston together after Benford left the game.
"I told Max and IGB, you are our young guys and we believe in you the same way we believe in (Benford)," Gardner-Johnson said. "Stay together. Make your plays when they come. And play good Buffalo Bills football. And I think that's what the guys did."
Gardner-Johnson said Buffalo's young corners have the confidence to process quickly and trust what they see.
"Our young corners got a lot of confidence to just go out there and be aggressive and just go do what they want to do," Gardner-Johnson said.
The Bills traded up four spots in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select Igbinosun with the No. 62 overall pick in April. The 6-foot-2 former Ohio State cornerback was known for his size, physicality and experience after starting 56 college games.
He was also known as a willing tackler. That part translated Sunday. So did the demeanor Buffalo liked when it drafted him.
Brady praised the dialogue between Igbinosun and Hairston after Benford went down.
"I thought they did a really good job in the communication," Brady said. "Took advantage of this past week and really looking forward for them to continue to progress."
Buffalo hosts New England at 1 p.m. Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
Benford's status will determine how much the Bills need Igbinosun.
If they do, the rookie already showed he won't need much time to introduce himself.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills may need rookie cornerback to step up. He already showed he's ready
