Bills’ Biggest Questions: Matt Milano’s Health

For the second straight season, the Bills’ linebacker position is one of the biggest stories heading into training camp.

A year after Terrel Bernard established himself as the replacement for free agent Tremaine Edmunds, the health of All-Pro linebacker Matt Milano is a major concern heading into the 2024 campaign.

Milano is trying to return from a devastating leg injury that cost him all but five games in 2023. He was injured in the Bills’ Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.

To everyone’s surprise, Milano returned to the practice field to participate in a limited capacity during mandatory mini-camp in June. Previously, head coach Sean McDermott had indicated that Milano was more likely to begin practicing during training camp at St. John Fisher University.

Milano’s progress is critical to the Bills’ defensive plans this season. He’ll be 30 during training camp, but before his injury last season, he was at the center of some of the league’s best linebacker performances. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 2022.

He formed a solid duo with Bernard in 2023, who was a breakout player for the Bills defense in his second season. Having the two athletic linebackers on the field together allows the club to best utilize its base defense with five defensive backs behind them.

While it will be positive to see Milano start practicing at full capacity as soon as possible, it’s more important that he’s ready to play when the Bills open the regular season in September.

If Bernard can continue his rise to middle linebacker and Milano is healthy and close to the player he was before his injury, it will form a fantastic duo at the base of Bobby Babich’s defensive core.

The team also signed veterans Deion Jones and Nicholas Morrow, who could provide depth and leadership. Youngsters Dorian Williams and Baylon Specter will also be in the mix, along with rookie Edefuan Ulofoshio. Western New York sports fans will also be interested in keeping an eye on Joe Andreessen, the product of nearby Lancaster High School and the University at Buffalo, who signed with his hometown team as an undrafted free agent after a tryout at rookie minicamp.