SB Nation • 12 min read

Buffalo Rumblinks, 10/9: Matt Milano’s latest injury testing LB depth

The Buffalo Bills know that, when healthy, linebacker Matt Milano can deliver All Pro-caliber play. The problem is, more often than not, Milano has not been able to stay healthy.

It’s becoming a real problem

for head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, and today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off with thoughts on how Milano’s latest injury is testing the team’s depth at the linebacker position.

Matt Milano once again dealing with an injury

During Buffalo’s 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday night, starting linebacker Matt Milano re-aggravated his pectoral muscle. He is considered “week-to-week,” according to Sean McDermott, and considering how Milano has only finished one game this year, the reality is that McDermott and Buffalo’s defense simply cannot rely on Milano to be a consistent contributor.

It’s a troubling development for the former All Pro, who missed the final 12 games of the 2023 season after suffering a season-ending leg injury in Buffalo’s Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, and who missed the first 11 games of the 2024 season after he tore a biceps tendon during training camp. Add it all up and in the 39 games the Bills have played since that London trip, Milano has appeared in 10 contests, less than 25 percent of the team’s games.

In the past when Milano was sidelined, Dorian Williams filled in admirably, but he’s dealing with his own injury issues (knee), while veteran Shaq Thompson has played well through the first five games of the season.

Milano has been an effective contributor when he was on the field this year, but now, his availability is in question, although McDermott did rule out placing Milano on injured reserve, an indication that the team believes he will return at some time in the near future. But just how good will Milano be when he returns, and will he be able to play in the majority of Buffalo’s games for the first time since his All Pro campaign in 2022?

Bills appear to have a wide receiver problem

On offense, the Buffalo Bills employ an “everybody eats” approach to their wide receivers, a philosophy that succeeds when the rushing attack is working. But as Bills fans saw on Sunday night, when James Cook and the ground game are bottled up, Buffalo’s wide receivers struggle to create enough separation on their own.

Below, read why the Bills appear to have a wide receiver problem; examining what has gone wrong with this underwhelming group of receivers; and whether it’s time to worry about free-agent signee Joshua Palmer, who is not off to a great start in Buffalo.

Even more Bills news

Why head coach Sean McDermott and offensive coordinator Joe Brady don’t see eye to eye on the team’s offensive issues in their loss to New England; plus, more power rankings to see how far Buffalo fell after suffering its first loss; find out what uniforms the Bills will wear for their Monday Night Football clash vs. the Atlanta Falcons; get the latest update on the team’s new stadium; and more!