Milano has a Pec Injury Timeline "we'll see" per Sean

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

12 minutes ago, finn said:

I'm not, though. I fully support Milano in his struggles. When healthy, he's one of the best players on the team, and I wouldn't advocate cutting or trading him even if he misses half the season. I'm merely ruing that we've seen this picture before, much like anyone noting any unfortunate pattern related to the Bills. I'm not sure how you could see that as criticism. I'm sure he, his teammates and coaches are frustrated, too. 

 

 

 

I think this offseason needs to have a real milano plan.  

 

He's slated to have a 11M cap hit in 2026 currently in void money.  If he's brought back, the void money reduces in 2026 to about 6M, and then there's a little under 5M in 2027.  If you can make the cap hit roughly the same 11M or thereabouts without making significant changes to the 2027 numbers, i don't mind bringing him back since its essentially a wash to the salary cap.   

 

Having said that, he's going to be in his age 31 season and has played 14 games including playoffs over the last 3 seasons combined (including the 2 games this season).  He's not currently under contract for 2026 so he'd have to want to come back at a potentially lesser role for less money. I'd suspect he'd be the ramon humber role of Milano's rookie season, where Humber was hurt and eventually replaced by Milano.  

 

Buffalo could also stand to make a WLB investment this offseason as dorian williams is a free agent after 2026, and imo has not done enough to justify an extension beyond a year to year agreement.  Finding a rookie contract player who can start is going to be far more affordable against the cap moving forward.  A lot of dudes just got paid, so they need some more rookie contract contributors at every level of the roster.  

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

So, guys who can’t cover as well?

 

It’s a balancing act. 

No LB in the NFL can cover a RB or decent TE.  The coverage LB is a total fallacy. Plus we play moslty zone nickel. They just need to occupy their zone and get to the deep middle in cover 2. 

Read and reacting is the skill most needed. That is what made Milano exceptional and what made Edmunds expendable. Size may or may not translate to durability but it doenst mean they can't play pass defense well. 

4 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

I think this offseason needs to have a real milano plan.  

 

He's slated to have a 11M cap hit in 2026 currently in void money.  If he's brought back, the void money reduces in 2026 to about 6M, and then there's a little under 5M in 2027.  If you can make the cap hit roughly the same 11M or thereabouts without making significant changes to the 2027 numbers, i don't mind bringing him back since its essentially a wash to the salary cap.   

 

Having said that, he's going to be in his age 31 season and has played 14 games including playoffs over the last 3 seasons combined (including the 2 games this season).  He's not currently under contract for 2026 so he'd have to want to come back at a potentially lesser role for less money. I'd suspect he'd be the ramon humber role of Milano's rookie season, where Humber was hurt and eventually replaced by Milano.  

 

Buffalo could also stand to make a WLB investment this offseason as dorian williams is a free agent after 2026, and imo has not done enough to justify an extension beyond a year to year agreement.  Finding a rookie contract player who can start is going to be far more affordable against the cap moving forward.  A lot of dudes just got paid, so they need some more rookie contract contributors at every level of the roster.  

Post June 1 cut. Thank you for your service.  Time to move on.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

11 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

No LB in the NFL can cover a RB or decent TE.  The coverage LB is a total fallacy. Plus we play moslty zone nickel. They just need to occupy their zone and get to the deep middle in cover 2. 

Read and reacting is the skill most needed. That is what made Milano exceptional and what made Edmunds expendable. Size may or may not translate to durability but it doenst mean they can't play pass defense well. 

Post June 1 cut. Thank you for your service.  Time to move on.

 

I don't think it works that way with void money (someone can feel free to correct me), but my understanding was that all of that bonus money gets front loaded in a void year.  

[Augie]

1 hour ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

No LB in the NFL can cover a RB or decent TE.  The coverage LB is a total fallacy. Plus we play moslty zone nickel. They just need to occupy their zone and get to the deep middle in cover 2. 

Read and reacting is the skill most needed. That is what made Milano exceptional and what made Edmunds expendable. Size may or may not translate to durability but it doenst mean they can't play pass defense well. 

Post June 1 cut. Thank you for your service.  Time to move on.

 

Bigger guys generally do not move as well as smaller guys. Don’t try to lose sight of that, it’s an important point. Yes, they all need to read and react….then they need to get there. That is where speed comes in. 

[jethro_tull]

Regardless of age MM puts himself on the line and gives his all in every game he suits up for.  Keep him as long as possible.  

[colin]

i think this injury marks the inevitable end for milano as a bill.

 

he and knox are loved players, but injuries and lack of production vs their big contracts (along with the von miller and stef diggs disasters) pretty much spell their exit after this year.

 

how dorian williams plays will have a big influence on our draft strategy next year, but you can bet your butt there will be a linebacker taken fairly high.

 

it's sad to think about, but both of these guys have a chance to prove me wrong, and make meaningful contributions to the team this season, but they have to be available to play.

 

😕

[BearNorth]

I just saw a [hopefully not credible] thing on my feed saying that the Bears are making Tremaine Edmunds available as a Milano replacement.  Crossing my fingers this does not have a shred of truth to it.

[YoloinOhio]

 

[boyst]

3 hours ago, BearNorth said:

I just saw a [hopefully not credible] thing on my feed saying that the Bears are making Tremaine Edmunds available as a Milano replacement.  Crossing my fingers this does not have a shred of truth to it.

For a 4th or 5th rounder ... Maybe. But that salary bro has is too much. 

[billsfan89]

11 minutes ago, boyst said:

For a 4th or 5th rounder ... Maybe. But that salary bro has is too much. 

 

I think Edumonds could be in play as a Milano replacement next year. The Bears have a very easy out on his massive deal (its a 2.6 million dollar dead cap number against a 17.2 million dollar cap charge) and if he's not willing to rework his deal or the Bears just want to move on they will likely cut him. He's only going to be 28 next season, I could easily see McBeane brining him back for one season and drafting a longer term replacement to develop for a season. 

 

This year I just don't think it would make sense as a trade cap wise. 

[Success]

The injuries are a bummer so far - but we're going into a pretty easy part of our schedule. This doesn't sound too long term, at least so far.

 

If he can make it back for the home stretch & playoffs, we're fine here.  

 

[boyst]

17 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

I think Edumonds could be in play as a Milano replacement next year. The Bears have a very easy out on his massive deal (its a 2.6 million dollar dead cap number against a 17.2 million dollar cap charge) and if he's not willing to rework his deal or the Bears just want to move on they will likely cut him. He's only going to be 13 next season, I could easily see McBeane brining him back for one season and drafting a longer term replacement to develop for a season. 

 

This year I just don't think it would make sense as a trade cap wise. 

Fify

[folz]

Just FYI. Milano injury history.

 

He just turned 31 years old. He has missed 30 games since he became a starter (8-1/3 seasons, possible 124 games). That averages to 4.22 games/season (of course, he lost most of those games in 2023 and 2024). He has played in approx. 75.81% of his games across his career (feels like it has been worse than that even, maybe because he's been such a big loss when out---and because of the last two years---kind of like Tre before we released him).

 

Year   Injury                   Time missed

2018   None

2019   Hamstring pull    missed 1 game

2020  Ab strain             missed 1 game

2020  Pec strain            missed 2 games

2021   None

2022  Ab strain             missed 1 game

2023  MCL tear/           missed 12 games

           tibial fracture

2024  Bicep tear           missed 13 games

2025  Pec strain            ??????????????? (looking like maybe only a game or two at this point?)

 

I guess we'll seee how he comes back and if he can stay healthy the rest of the year. No question we all love Milano and he's still a very good player when healthy. In the first two games this year, he had 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 pressure, 1 QB hit (and he didn't even play the second half of the Jets game). But, yes, I wouldn't be surprised if this is Matt's last season with the Bills (based on age and injuries). Plus, he's on a one-year deal, and a FA at the end of the season (so, obviously Beane was already hedging his bets). Hopefully Matt goes out with a bang and a ring (not on IR). It's sad to see these guys that helped to establish this new era (Hyde, Poyer, Tre, Milano) coming to the end of their careers.