While the Buffalo Bills finally got star pass rusher Von Miller back in Week 5, they probably lost one of their best on that side of the ball for the rest of the 2023 NFL season.
On Sunday, the Buffalo Bills kicked off the slate of action for the day with a morning matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars as the two playoff teams from 2022 battle it out in London, England. The Bills entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the league and a week removed from a dominant 48-20 victory over division rivals the Miami Dolphins.
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While the stellar play of the offense over the last three weeks has gotten a great deal of attention, one of the big storylines this week was the return of future Hall-of-Famer Von Miller. The eight-time Pro Bowler has been out since Week 11 of last season after tearing his ACL. And his return bolsters a defense that has played impressively as well over recent games.
Buffalo Bills star Matt Milano feared out for the season
However, while the unit got Miller back in Week 5, they “likely” have lost stud linebacker Matt Milano for the season. In the first half of the game on Sunday, Milano had his right leg rolled up by a mass of bodies during a tackle. In a video of the ugly incident, Milano can be seen in immediate pain and had to be helped off the field.
- Matt Milano stats (2022): 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 7 QB hits, 3 interceptions
After being evaluated on the sideline, a full cast was put on his leg, and he was carted off the field for X-rays. There is little doubt it is an injury that will keep him out for multiple weeks if not for the entire season. It is another massive blow to the Buffalo Bills defense after they lost star cornerback TreDavious White for the season due to an Achilles injury.
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After the game, NFL Media league insider Ian Rapoport indicated that the linebacker is believed to have a fractured leg and likely has also suffered an injury to his knee that will sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Milano was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. After several solid seasons during his first five seasons in the league, the 29-year-old had a breakout season in 2022 as he posted 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions for the AFC East champions last year.
Milano was given a two-year, $28 million extension in the offseason.