Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott offered a glimmer of optimism regarding linebacker Matt Milano’s potential return for the team’s Week 3 matchup against the Miami Dolphins. Speaking to reporters before Tuesday’s practice in Orchard Park, McDermott addressed Milano’s status after the veteran linebacker suffered a pectoral injury during the Bills’ 30-10 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
Milano, a former All-Pro linebacker, exited the game at halftime and did not return. He missed the team’s first practice session of the week and was confirmed to sit out Tuesday’s practice as well. Despite this, McDermott left the door open for Milano’s return to the field before Thursday night’s primetime clash with the Dolphins.
“Don’t have much,” McDermott said via the Bills’ live stream. “Hopefully, we can get him back as we head into tomorrow here.” When pressed on whether Milano could return to practice before the game, McDermott responded, “Potentially, yeah.”
However, McDermott stopped short of ruling out a more serious, long-term injury, creating some uncertainty about the severity of Milano’s condition. This isn’t the first time Milano has dealt with a pectoral issue. In 2020, a similar injury sidelined him for two games initially, followed by a stint on injured reserve that caused him to miss three additional games. Other Bills players, including linebacker Terrel Bernard (pec strain, missed two games in 2024) and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (torn pec, missed 10 games in 2023), have also faced pectoral injuries in recent years, highlighting the variable recovery timelines for such injuries.
While it seems unlikely that Milano will play on the short turnaround against Miami, McDermott’s comments suggest that the 31-year-old has likely avoided a season-ending injury. Should Milano be unable to suit up, second-year linebacker Dorian Williams, who led the Bills with 117 tackles in 2024 while starting 11 games, is expected to step in as the starter. Milano has contributed nine tackles and one sack through the first two games of the 2025 season.
In addition to Milano, the Bills’ injury report includes defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle), who did not practice on Tuesday, and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson (quad), linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring), and defensive back Cam Lewis (shoulder), who were all listed as limited participants. The Bills will hold one final practice on Wednesday before facing the Dolphins on Thursday night.
With Milano’s status still up in the air, Bills fans will be eagerly awaiting further updates as the team prepares for a critical divisional showdown.