In a recent development in the world of American football, Matt Milano’s latest injury has altered his timeline for returning to the field after suffering a devastating leg injury in 2023. The plan, as reported by ESPN’s own Adam Schefter, is for Milano to aim for a comeback later in the 2024 NFL season, with a projected target of December.
The road to recovery for Milano began after the severe leg injury he sustained in Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season. With a fractured tibial plateau and ligament damage to his knee, Milano’s season was abruptly cut short, leaving him to focus on rehabilitation and healing.
Matt Milano was primed to resume his pivotal role alongside linebacker Terrel Bernard, a duo that was considered a cornerstone of the Buffalo Bills’ defense. With Milano sidelined, the Bills will look to their depth to fill the void left by his absence this upcoming season.
Linebacker Dorian Williams is expected to step up in Milano’s stead, while other off-ball linebackers such as Nicholas Morrow, Baylon Spector, Joe Andreessen, Deion Jones, Shayne Simon, and Edefuan Ulofoshio may also be called upon to contribute. Unfortunately, both Ulofoshio and Morrow are currently nursing injuries, further complicating the team’s defensive lineup.
Despite Milano’s importance to the Bills’ defense, the reality is that he has only completed one full NFL season since his rookie year in 2017. Surprisingly, Milano carries the third-highest salary cap hit on the team, underscoring his value to the defense.
Sean Murphy, in his analysis of Matt Milano, noted the challenge of relying on Milano for a full season due to his playing style and smaller stature for a linebacker. Murphy emphasized the need for Buffalo to have a reliable backup plan in place to account for Milano’s injury history.
The pressing question now is whether the Buffalo Bills have a sufficient backup plan in place on their roster. If not, the team will need to consider their next course of action to address Milano’s absence and maintain the defensive strength they had anticipated entering the upcoming season.