The Bills continue to expect their veteran linebacker to return in the late season. Coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the Bills continue to envision linebacker playing in 2024 (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic).
His recovery from a torn bicep is “going well,” according to the coach. McDermott also stated that Milano continues to have an impact on the current team, praising the player’s leadership during the rehabilitation process (per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg).
“There is [hope that he’ll return],” McDermott told ESPN’s Kyle Silagyi. “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.”
Even if Milano manages to return to the field this season, it will still mark a second consecutive lost year for the veteran. In Week 5 of the 2023 season, he sustained a fractured leg along with a knee injury, cutting that season short. While Milano returned for this year’s minicamp, a bicep injury during training camp has kept him sidelined for all of 2024.
This latest setback is a significant challenge for Milano as he approaches his age-30 season. Despite the continued injuries, the Bills designated him with an IR-Return tag, signaling hope from the organization. Even though expectations for Milano’s impact may be tempered, he would provide additional depth at linebacker. So far, Dorian Williams has been the only steady presence for the Bills at the position in 2024, with Baylon Spector stepping in when Terrel Bernard has been unavailable.
In his last full season, Milano earned his first All-Pro honor, tallying 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions, including a pick-six. That performance secured him a two-year extension, keeping him with Buffalo through 2026. However, as Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News points out, Milano’s $16 million cap hit in 2025 could lead to speculation about his roster future this offseason.
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