For the second straight year, Matt Milano is facing a lengthy absence due to injury. The All-Pro Bills linebacker suffered a torn bicep during practice earlier this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
As a result of the injury, Milano is out indefinitely. Schefter notes Milano will undergo surgery with the hope of being able to return at some point during the campaign. For the foreseeable future, however, Buffalo will need to make alternate arrangements at the linebacker spot.
Milano suffered a fractured leg as well as a knee injury in Week 5 of the 2023 season, ending his availability for the year. That injury left the Bills without a full-time starter at the second level of their defense through the playoffs and well into the 2024 offseason. The 30-year-old made progress in his rehab to the point he was able to participate on a limited basis during minicamp in June. Milano had been taking part in training camp while preparing to return to regular season action, but his attention will now once again turn to recovery.
Buffalo was set to rely heavily on Milano in 2024. The former fifth-rounder has spent his entire career with the Bills, starting 74 of his 90 games. He racked up three interceptions, 11 pass deflections and 99 tackles in 2022; those totals earned him a Pro Bowl invitation in addition to his All-Pro nod. Especially with Tremaine Edmunds having departed in free agency, the Bills were counting on Milano to remain a key member of their defense in 2023.
His absence was acutely felt, and the same will no doubt be true in 2024. Buffalo still has Terrel Bernard in the fold, and he served as a full-time starter last season. Buffalo also has 2023 third-rounder Dorian Williams on the depth chart; after logging a special teams workload as a rookie, Williams may now be thrust into a starting role. Other linebacker options include free agent signings Nicholas Morrow and Deion Jones, as well as fifth-round rookie Edefuan Ulofoshio. Of course, replacing Milano’s unique skillset with any one player will be challenging.
The Boston College alum signed a two-year, $28.33MM extension last offseason. Milano is thus under contract through 2026, although no guaranteed salary is in place after the coming year. Another major injury will lead to an on-field absence felt by the team, but it could also lead to efforts to restructure his deal and lower his future cap hits. In any event, Milano’s 2024 debut will be much later than anticipated.