Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott made the announcement on Thursday that linebacker Matt Milano will be out indefinitely due to a torn left bicep, causing him to miss at least the initial months of the season. This injury adds to Milano’s recent setbacks, as he missed most of last season with a broken leg.
McDermott shared the update as the Bills geared up for a joint practice with the Steelers before their preseason game in Pittsburgh. Milano is set to undergo surgery and, if all goes well, could potentially return to the field by December.
Milano sustained the injury early in practice during a tackling drill on Tuesday and was sidelined for the rest of the session after being evaluated by the team’s trainers.
Describing the situation as unfortunate, McDermott praised Milano’s strength and resilience, emphasizing the need for the team to move forward and find solutions.
The setback comes as Milano was gradually returning to form following a significant injury that kept him out of the final 12 games of the previous season. The linebacker was given the green light to practice during Buffalo’s mandatory minicamp in June and had been participating fully in training camp, although he did not play in the Bills’ preseason opener against the Chicago Bears.
A vital component of Buffalo’s defense, Milano, a 2022 All-Pro, has been instrumental since being drafted in 2017 from Boston College. Despite his smaller stature at 6 feet, 223 pounds, his speed across the field and strong tackling abilities have made him a staple on the defense.
With Milano sidelined, the Bills face challenges on defense due to offseason turnover and salary cap constraints, which led to the departure of key veteran players. His primary backups, Dorian Williams and rookie Edefuan Ulofoshio, lack experience at the professional level, with Nicholas Morrow being the only backup linebacker with significant NFL experience, albeit nursing an ankle injury during training camp.