Bills Get Positive News on Key Defender’s Injury Heading Into Week 4
Despite missing Thursday night’s game against the Dolphins due to an injury, Buffalo Bills LB Matt Milano got some on Friday courtesy of Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Milano was ruled out of the Miami game due to an injury he suffered the previous week against the Jets. On Friday, McDermott spoke to the media and gave an update on his stud linebacker, as well as DT Ed Oliver, who missed his second straight game after starring in the season opener against the Ravens.
“So, injury report: with Matt [Milano] and Ed [Oliver] both, we’ll just see where things take us this week,” McDermott said. “And they’re both improving. I don’t have anything more at this time to give you, I’ll know a little bit more next week. Injury report-wise from the game itself, don’t have much of a report — at this time at least. I know [ED AJ Epenesa] went out there, [CB Christian Benford] went out of the game a little bit there with a leg. But I don’t have any clarity really on that at this point.”
“Feel like that. Yeah, feel like it,” McDermott said on the idea that Milano would avoid going on Injured Reserve (IR). “What I was told after the injury last week, Joe, was [after] the first couple of days they would know more. So I think they feel the same, that wasn’t any worse, right? So sometimes after an injury they have to wait a couple of days to see how the initial situation really sets in and I think it, to this point, it’s been a positive for Matt that he’s already continued to improve to this point.”
This is huge news for the Bills, who rely heavily on Milano’s presence in the middle of their defense. Had Milano been placed on IR, he would be out a minimum of four games. Now, he can return as soon as next week — as long as he’s healthy.
Buffalo Bills LB Matt Milano Was Once One of the Best Linebackers in the NFL
The former fifth-round pick out of Boston College in 2017 quickly became a centerpiece on the Bills’ defense. He’s been a weekly starter his entire career and developed a reputation as one of the top coverage linebackers in the league.
From 2017 to 2022, Milano was a key cog in McDermott’s defense. But over the past few seasons, injuries have hampered Milano significantly. He’s played a total of just 11 games since 2023, struggling to stay on the field. If this Buffalo defense is to reach their full potential, they’ll need Milano out there.
The Buffalo Bills are off to a Fast Start in 2025
After their thrilling comeback victory over the Ravens in Week 1, capped off by a game-winning field goal by Matt Prater as time expired, Buffalo followed it up with back-to-back division wins over the Jets and Dolphins.
Already sitting at 3-0 as the rest of the league enters Week 3 tomorrow, the Bills have to feel pretty good about their standing in the AFC. They already secured a critical tiebreaker over the Ravens for seeding purposes, which could come into play as they fight for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Bears 'physical' defense takes bite out of doily-soft Dolphins
It's not exactly the Monsters of the Midway or Mike Ditka and his iconic gruffness, but the Chicago Bears ruffling the dainty feathers of the Miami Dolphins can only be viewed as a good thing.
When you haven't finished with a winning record since 2018 or won a playoff game since 2010, a tweak of the identity is necessary. New head coach Ben Johnson arrived with a reputation as one of the NFL's most innovative offensive minds. But after Thursday's joint practice with the doily-soft Dolphins, perhaps he's instilling a defensive as well.
MORE: Dolphins player calls out Bears for 'fake' toughness
The Bears' defense took it to the Buffalo Bills a week ago, intercepting MVP quarterback Josh Allen three times in a joint practice. Thursday they were at it again, picking off Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa another three times. If this keeps up, Bears' franchise quarterback Caleb Williams won't have to be Superman after all.
By all accounts, the Bears shoved around the Dolphins. So shaken was Miami that after the workout offensive lineman Aaron Brewer went as low as calling the Bears' physicality "B.S." and "fake."
MORE: Dolphins player calls out Bears for 'fake' toughness
The Dolphins arrived expecting a walkthrough and the Bears punched them in the lip. Perfect. We don't remember defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan making many friends in 1985 when his unit bludgeoned opponents on its way to Super Bowl XX.
Here's hoping we hear more of this in the regular season: Complaints about Johnson running up the score and the big, bad Bears' defense being too physical.
