The Bills hold out hope for a return from their experienced linebacker, Matt Milano, later in the season. Coach Sean McDermott informed the media that they believe Milano could participate in the 2024 season (according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic).
McDermott shared that Milano is progressing well in his recovery from a torn bicep and continues to influence the team positively, with the coach emphasizing Milano’s leadership throughout his rehabilitation (per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg).
“There is [hope that he’ll return],” McDermott stated (h/t Kyle Silagyi of SI.com). “I don’t know a lot of the detail, I just kind of know a big-picture view of Matt. He’s moving in the right direction, I see him every day. He’s one of the leaders on our football team, and I’ve even felt that more this year even than I did last year.”
If Milano does manage to play this year, it would still mark a second consecutive lost season for him. He suffered a fractured leg and knee injury in Week 5 of the 2023 season, prematurely ending that year for him. Although he returned in time for this year’s minicamp, he then faced a bicep injury during training camp that has sidelined him throughout the 2024 season.
This latest significant setback comes just before he turns 30. Nevertheless, the Bills designated him for return from injured reserve, indicating some level of optimism from the team. While they may not rely heavily on him, his return could bolster the linebacker depth chart, which has seen Dorian Williams consistently performing, while Baylon Spector has stepped in as needed when Terrel Bernard has been unable to play.
In his last full season, Milano earned his only All-Pro selection, finishing with 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions (including a pick-six). This standout performance earned him a two-year extension that would keep him with the team through 2026. Unfortunately, as noted by Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News, Milano’s $16M cap hit for the 2025 season will likely spark speculation about his future with the team as offseason approaches.
