Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that the Buffalo Bills are facing grim news. Linebacker Matt Milano suffered a torn bicep during training this week and will require surgery.
Matt Milano is a resilient and strong individual, and I’m confident he’ll handle this challenge. It’s especially tough given the year he’s had, but he has a strong support system from his family, teammates, coaching staff, and the entire organization,” McDermott said at the press conference.
Drafted by the Bills in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Milano has played eight seasons with the team, starting 74 of 90 games. His career stats include 488 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 39 passes defended. Milano had a standout season in 2022, earning a spot on the All-Pro First Team, and signed a two-year extension with the Bills in March 2023.
Regarding his recovery timeline, torn biceps typically require 3 to 4 months to heal, which could potentially see Milano back on the field by December. However, McDermott noted that it’s still too early to pinpoint a return date, so Milano will be out indefinitely.
Former All-Pro LB Matt Milano exited positional drills during #Bills Tuesday practice due to an apparent left arm injury. Athletic trainers spent time looking at his bicep/elbow area, Milano tested the injury a bit but did not return #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/I0sDoWLzDK
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) August 13, 2024
This isn’t the first significant injury Milano has faced in his career. During Week 5 of the 2023 season, he sustained a leg fracture in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. To cover for Milano, the team will rely on second-year linebacker Dorian Williams. McDermott has confidence in Williams, who started two games out of 14 appearances and recorded 40 tackles.
“Dorian is going to perform well; he’s been making strides. This is not only his chance to step up, but also an opportunity for his teammates to rise to the occasion. It’s not just one person’s responsibility to fill Matt’s void,” said McDermott.