Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano had been playing exceptionally well in the first five games of 2023, but then his season abruptly ended due to a fractured leg.
Milano is now back at the team facility continuing his rehab. However, general manager Brandon Beane’s update on the All-Pro’s recovery timeline raised concerns among fans. Milano was present at Orchard Park for this week’s voluntary workout, with Beane stating the linebacker was “still working through his deal.”
The response, combined with past uncertainty about Milano’s injury, prompted questions from fans.
Fans Question Bills GM
Some fans focused on Beane’s wording, referring to Milano’s rehab as “his deal” instead of providing more specific information about the leg injury that ended his season.
“‘His deal’… so they still won’t say the injury. Don’t really get the secrecy benefit,” one fan wrote on X.
The Bills have previously faced criticism for how they handled Milano’s injury. In November, Jay Skurksi from the Buffalo News observed that the team had not disclosed the extent of Milano’s knee damage.
“With Milano, the question of just how much damage was done to his knee in addition to the broken leg he suffered has yet to be answered,” Skurski wrote. “If he tore his ACL, forget it, he’s done for the year.
“The Bills haven’t said that, though. Why they’re treating it with such secrecy is a bit of a mystery – welcome to the world of covering the NFL – but the longer that goes on, the more hope builds that he might be able to return at some point.”
Bills head coach Sean McDermott also suggested during the season that Milano had sustained a complex injury and acknowledged the team’s lack of transparency. Speaking to reporters on October 24, McDermott expressed his desire for a less specific description due to the injury’s complexity.
“It was more complicated, or from my end, medically — different terms that I’m not really familiar with. So, can we just call it like NHL does… lower leg?” McDermott said.
Despite his previous concerns about the team’s secrecy, Skurski did not express any worry about Beane’s wording this week and viewed Milano’s return to the team as a positive sign.
“McDermott did say attendance at the first week of OTAs was very strong, in the range of 95%. That’s a good sign, as is the participation of linebacker Matt Milano, who ended last season on injured reserve,” Skurski wrote in a Buffalo News mailbag published on April 20.
Bills Could Consider Adjusting Linebacker Unit
While Milano is expected to come back for the 2024 season, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia wondered if he would maintain the same level of athleticism as last season. Buscaglia proposed the team could further develop second-year linebacker Dorian Williams to take on a more significant role and alleviate some of the pressure on Milano.
“Milano also is turning 30 years old and is coming off a significant leg injury,” Buscaglia wrote. “Assuring themselves they have a player with a similar speed and explosiveness profile to step in for Milano if necessary, and no one comes close to that as much as Williams.”
