Bills LB Milano suffers torn biceps, sources say

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Alaina Getzenberg, ESPNAug 15, 2024, 12:25 PM ET

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Alaina Getzenberg is a group of workers author who covers the Buffalo expenses and the NFL. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was up to now a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has additionally worked for CBS activities and the Dallas Morning information. She is a graduate of the school of California, Berkeley. that you may observe her by the use of Twitter @agetzenberg.

PITTSBURGH -- The Buffalo expenses' Matt Milano suffered a torn biceps all through Tuesday's practice, sources instructed ESPN's Adam Schefter, and the starting linebacker is out indefinitely, train Sean McDermott introduced Thursday.

Milano will endure surgical procedure with the hope of making an attempt to come back possibly in December, sources told Schefter. coach Sean McDermott verified Milano had a biceps injury ahead of the team's joint observe Thursday with the Pittsburgh Steelers but didn't specify that it was a tear.

"it be an unlucky condition, correct," McDermott spoke of. "Matt's a robust young man. i know he will tackle this. certainly difficult, specifically coming off of the 12 months he came off of already.

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"The first rate factor is he's got a fine family unit at the back of him which are going to help him, teammates that are going to help him as smartly as the coaching team of workers and our complete football organization. he's resilient. we have received to be resilient. now we have received to circulate forward and be focused on options."

The damage is available in the wake of the 2022 first group All-professional playing in exactly five video games last season as a result of a appropriate leg damage suffered within the team's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Milano, 30, become working his means back from that damage, including beginning practising camp entirely taking part, however with planned days off because the group endured to tackle the harm.

The linebacker was participating at all times at first of Tuesday's follow but suffered the damage all over the group's individual drill period while working on a tackling drill. He tackled a bag and hit his arm on it and additionally "perhaps on someone's leg just a bit bit," per McDermott. He then obtained consideration from trainers and remained out at practice with the team, however did not participate in crew drills as he continuously would.

"in case you understand the adult, you know that here's no longer going to beat or keep Matt Milano down," McDermott talked about. "obviously, this length in time at this time has been difficult for him, for absolutely everyone, but in certain for him and his family, he is aware of all of the work that he put in. nobody knows the work that Matt put in to get himself returned to where he was earlier than this fresh harm. So, it really is doubtless one of the harder ... capsules to swallow."

Milano is among the most appropriate coverage linebackers within the league. when you consider that getting into the NFL in 2017, he has allowed the bottom yards per goal, completion percentage and passer rating because the nearest defender in coverage amongst linebackers.

coming into his eighth NFL season, Milano's damage is tremendous for a defense that has new leaders stepping up with the departure of safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde this offseason. In 2021 and 2022, Milano recorded over 86 tackles in every season and over 12 tackles for loss. He additionally recorded eleven passes defensed in 2022 and 5 interceptions over the closing two seasons.

In his place, linebacker Dorian Williams, the group's 2023 third-round select, is decided to birth at backyard linebacker alongside starting middle linebacker Terrel Bernard, a third-circular choose in the 2022 NFL draft. McDermott emphasized that it will be up to greater than simply Williams to step up in Milano's absence.

"it's now not only one grownup's job to fill the void or try and fill the void left by using Matt," McDermott talked about. "you might be in no way going to exchange a player like Matt or Matt's influence, however now it's time for our team to circulate ahead in a resilient method and prefer each and every other up and guys like Dorian have to step up."

The bills defense turned into a different unit without Milano final season, even though it become a small pattern size with him on the box, allowing 16 points per game with him and 19.3 within the games with out him. The expenses additionally had a sack percentage of 12% with him and seven% without.

Milano signed a two-year contract extension in 2023, linking him with the crew throughout the 2026 season.