Milano agreed to restructure his contract with the Bills on Tuesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Milano agreed to shorten his contract with the Bills by a year, leaving him with one year remaining on his deal. It's worth noting the restructure also amounts to a pay cut, freeing up roughly $6 million in salary cap space for the team, but Milano can earn that back in incentives. The 2022 All-Pro linebacker has spent his first eight seasons in Buffalo, but he's only appeared in nine regular-season games the last two seasons due to injury.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Ready for AFC Championship Game
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Milano (hamstring/elbow) practiced in full Friday and does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's road AFC Championship Game at Kansas City.
Milano will be available for the Bills' key road playoff matchup against the Chiefs as the team looks to advance past Kansas City and to the Super Bowl. The standout linebacker has played 80-plus percent of the team's defensive snaps during each of Buffalo's playoff games thus far, in which span he's totaled eight tackles (four solo), including 1.0 sacks.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Upgrades to full practice
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Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Friday that Milano (hamstring/elbow) will practice in full Friday, Maddy Glab of the team's official site reports.
McDermott said the team will still have to see how things go regarding Milano's status for Sunday's AFC Championship Game in Kansas City, a potential indication that the veteran linebacker could still carry a 'questionable' designation on Friday's official injury report. Nonetheless, to see Milano close out his week of practice with a full session bodes well for his chances of suiting up versus the Chiefs.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Still nursing hamstring injury
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Milano (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Milano has been limited in consecutive practices due to a hamstring injury he likely picked up during Buffalo's divisional-round win over Baltimore. He's not in realistic danger of missing Sunday's AFC Championship Game against Kansas City unless he suffers a setback in Friday's practice. Since being activated off injured reserve in Week 13, Milano has accumulated 24 tackles (11 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and two fumble recoveries across six games (including two playoff contests).
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Bills' Matt Milano: Cleared to play Week 17
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Milano (biceps/groin) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Jets.
After logging a limited estimation Wednesday, Milano practiced fully Thursday and Friday and appears ready to return following a one-game absence. In three games this season, Milano has logged 11 tackles (five solo) and one fumble recovery.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Inactive Week 16
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Milano (biceps/groin) will not play in Sunday's game versus the Patriots.
Milano injured his groin in last week's win over the Lions. He finished the week as a limited participant at practice, but he ultimately will not get permission to suit up. He will now miss his 12th full outing of the season. As a result, Dorian Williams figures to be the likely candidate to fill in at weakside linebacker.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Injures groin versus Detroit
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Milano exited Sunday's game against the Lions with a groin injury and is questionable to return.
Prior to leaving in the second half, Milano registered three tackles (zero solo) and one QB hit. Baylon Spector is next up for snaps at linebacker for Buffalo while Milano is sidelined.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Not limited in season debut
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Milano logged 77 percent of Buffalo's defensive snaps and recorded five tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 35-10 Week 13 win against the 49ers.
Milano missed the first 12 weeks of the campaign due to a torn biceps, but even in slippery and snowy conditions Sunday, he saw plenty of action. The veteran linebacker was on the field for 77 percent of Buffalo's defensive snaps while Dorian Williams, who had been starting in his place, played only on special teams. Milano thus appears set to be full-steam ahead for the remainder of the campaign as long as he can remain healthy.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Officially set for return
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Milano is active for Sunday night's contest against the 49ers, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Milano will officially make his return to the field in Week 13 after missing the entirety of the season to this point with a torn biceps. The linebacker compiled 30 total tackles (18 solo) while adding two interceptions, two passes defensed and a forced fumble over five games in 2023 before a season-ending leg injury. Milano will now slot in at weakside linebacker on Buffalo's defense versus San Francisco.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Could see first action of season
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Milano (biceps) is questionable for Sunday night's game against the 49ers, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.
Milano is one of the NFL's better all-around linebackers but also one of the more injury-prone ones. He's yet to play in a game this season after seeing action in just five regular-season contests in 2023. While he may not see a full workload right away even if he does return Sunday night, the 9-2 Bills have aspirations toward a deep playoff run, and having the heartbeat of their defense back out there would certainly help that aim.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Ruled out for Week 11
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Milano (biceps) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
Milano was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday, opening his 21-day practice window, but he was never expected to play versus Kansas City. Buffalo has a Week 12 bye, so a Week 13 return against San Francisco makes more sense for the Buffalo linebacker.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Progress in recovery being made
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Head coach Sean McDermott stated Wednesday that there is hope Milano (biceps) will return this year, Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site reports.
Milano suffered a torn biceps during training camp, but he's moving in the right direction, according to McDermott. The initial hope was the Boston College product would be able to return sometime in December, but it's not clear if that timeline has shifted. With December still a few weeks away, it's likely a more definitive date for Milano's return won't come anytime soon.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Past leg issue
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General manager Brandon Beane told reporters that Milano will participate fully in Wednesday's practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
Milano fractured his leg during Week 5 of the Bills' 2023 campaign, but it now appears as if he's moved past the issue. The veteran linebacker is an integral part of Buffalo's defense, and he's expected to remain one of the team's top inside linebackers now that he's returned from injury.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Recovering as scheduled
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Milano (leg) is on schedule in his recovery from a fractured leg, Dan Fetes of 13WHAM reports.
Milano is still in recovery mode, and he likely won't participate in drills until closer to training camp, coach Sean McDermott indicated this week. However, as long as the linebacker stays on schedule, he should be ready to go when Week 1 of the 2024 campaign begins.
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Bills' Matt Milano: No timeline yet
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Milano (leg) doesn't have a rehab timeline, though Bills GM Brandon Beane said Tuesday that the linebacker is "probably closer to being through rehab" than cornerback Tre'Davious White (Achilles), Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reports.
The Bills lost two of their best defenders to season-ending injuries in early October, with Milano fracturing his leg one week after White tore an Achilles' tendon. The latter is more likely to be a concern for 2024, though it's certainly possible Milano's rehab process impacts his spring/summer as he prepares for his age-30 season. The linebacker is under contract through 2026, including a fully guaranteed $4.125 million base salary (and $12.437 million cap hit) for 2024.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Not expected to return this season
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Coach Sean McDermott said Friday he doesn't believe Milano (leg) has a chance to return from IR this season, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic reports.
Milano suffered a fractured right leg in early October, one of numerous brutal injuries for Buffalo's defense this season. At the time of Milano's injury, McDermott insinuated that the All-Pro linebacker could have a chance to return down the stretch, but it sounds like that's no longer in play. As such, Milano's attention will be turned to making a full recovery for the 2024 campaign.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Leaves with knee injury
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Milano suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London and won't return. He recorded three tackles prior to departing.
Milano was carted to the locker room and had an air cast on his leg. The seventh-year linebacker fills a key role on the Buffalo defense and had compiled 30 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble through five games this season. Dorian Williams came off the bench to replace Milano in the lineup.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Picks off another pass
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Milano recorded four tackles and an interception in Sunday's 38-10 win versus Las Vegas.
With the game already in hand and the Raiders in desperation mode, Milano jumped in front of a Jimmy Garoppolo pass intended for Josh Jacobs late in the third quarter to notch his second interception of the year. He's also still on pace for more than 100 tackles over a full season and is therefore a fine option at IDP heading into a Week 3 matchup at Washington.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Good to go Week 15
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Milano (knee) does not carry an injury designation ahead of Saturday's game versus Miami.
Milano has been considered day-to-day with a knee injury that kept him sidelined during practice Tuesday and Wednesday. While he only managed to log a limited session Thursday, the linebacker is nonetheless still scheduled to play Saturday. Milano followed a similar practice structure last week before playing every defensive snap in Sunday's win over the Jets, so his usage doesn't figure to be limited while facing Miami's high-flying offense either. The 28-year-old has accumulated 77 tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries and eight passes defended, including two interceptions, over 12 games this season.
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Bills' Matt Milano: Unavailable for practice
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Milano (knee) will not practice Wednesday, Michael Giardi of NFL Network reports.
Milano continues to deal with the knee injury that hobbled him last week in practice, but considering he played in Week 14, he seems likely to be able to go Saturday versus the Dolphins. In the off chance he can't play, Tyrel Dodson would step into a larger role.
