Here we go again. Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano is set to miss time as he deals with an injury. Is it groundhog day? It sure feels like it. On Monday, head coach Sean McDermott said that the 31-year-old linebacker was dealing with a pectoral injury.
After playing just four games in 2023 and then five in 2024 as he dealt with a leg injury and a torn bicep respectively, it felt like Milano was playing to prove something in these first two games of the 2025 season. In six quarters played, Milano has
recorded nine tackles, five of them solo, and a sack.
But then toward the end of the first half of Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium, Milano was seen falling to the ground and then clutching his right arm. He never returned to play, but the Bills also didn’t provide an injury update. That’s when speculation entered the picture.
At first, the cameras missed him grabbing his arm as he fell. The fall was in the open field and original guesses were that Milano was dealing with some type of hamstring injury. That’s something Milano has a history of, dating all the way back to 2019, then again in 2020, and then he dealt with some hamstring soreness when he returned to action at the end of 2024.
After halftime, Milano was seen on the sideline. He had his helmet, indicating he might be able to return to play if needed, but the Bills coasted to a 30-10 victory. While on the sideline, Milano was seen wearing a shoulder harness that prompted new speculation about a potential right shoulder injury. This is when a closer look at the game film showed Milano grabbing his arm and pulling it to his body after making initial contact with the ground using his right arm.
On Monday morning, McDermott set the record straight. He informed the media that Milano was dealing with a pectoral injury, telling reporters that the Bills “don’t know yet” how much time Milano will miss.
On Tuesday, his update added a little hope: While Milano won’t practice for the second straight day, McDermott said that he could “potentially” get some work in on Wednesday. Of course, then, when pressed further a few minutes later, he said that the team had not ruled out the possibility of it being a long-term injury either. It’s pretty much a given that Milano won’t play Thursday as the Bills host the Miami Dolphins on a short week. Whether he plays the following week (or even the next) remains to be seen.
In 2020, Milano had a left side pectoral injury that caused him to miss Weeks 5 and 6. The Bills tried to get him back on the field, but it was a no-go, and he ended up with a stint on Injured Reserve (IR) after Week 8. When he returned to play, Milano recorded 24 tackles, including eight alone in Week 16, and two sacks over the remaining five regular-season games.
Historically, the Bills have had a wide range of recovery periods for players with pectoral injuries. Last season linebacker Terrel Bernard missed two games, while wide receiver Curtis Samuel missed one — as both players dealt with pectoral strains. In 2022, defensive tackle Ed Oliver was listed with a pectoral strain, but didn’t miss any playing time. Milano’s 202o injury was considered to be in the strain category and he missed five games total. Also in 2020, offensive lineman Jon Feliciano had a pectoral tear that required a stint on IR. He returned to play 12 games, however. In 2023, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones had a pectoral tear in Week 5. He was on IR until Week 17.
After playing 16 and 15 games respectively in 2021 and 2023, that’s when the injury woes amped back up for Milano. A healthy summer, and strong start, and it looked like Milano was a man on a mission in 2025.
The Bills restructured his contract this offseason, making 2025 the last year Milano is guaranteed to wear a Bills uniform. Is Milano trying to earn another contract? Is he trying to prove his worth to other teams around the league so that his free-agent status carries some clout?
Whatever mission it is that Milano’s on, he’ll have to be on a football field to complete it. Here’s hoping that this is a short-term recovery process for the veteran linebacker who looked like he still has plenty more to give.
