Just hours after revealing that linebacker Matt Milano might miss most of the upcoming season due to a torn pectoral muscle, the Buffalo Bills faced another linebacker concern.
Buffalo News reporter Katherine Fitzgerald reported that second-year linebacker Dorian Williams had to leave the team’s joint practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 15. Although Williams spent some time with the team’s athletic trainers on the sidelines, he later provided a reassuring update.
With Milano’s injury putting additional strain on a defense that has already seen significant changes—losing key players like cornerback Tre’Davious White and safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer—Williams is expected to step into a more prominent role.
Dorian Williams Speaks Out
ESPN sources: Bills Pro-Bowl linebacker Matt Milano, who left Tuesday’s practice injured, tore his bicep and now will be out indefinitely. Milano will undergo surgery on his torn bicep with the hope of trying to return later this season, possibly in December. pic.twitter.com/hQDauRequk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 15, 2024
Although Dorian Williams caused concern by leaving Thursday’s practice, he reassured everyone that the injury didn’t seem to be serious.
“I’m great. I’m great,” Williams told reporters after practice, according to Fitzgerald on X.
The injury scare came shortly after Bills head coach Sean McDermott emphasized that Williams would need to “step up” following Matt Milano’s injury. As a rookie in 2023, Williams played in all 17 games and started two, recording 40 total tackles and two quarterback hits.
McDermott highlighted that it would take a team effort from the other linebackers to compensate for Milano’s absence, with Williams expected to play a crucial role.
“Dorian’s going to do a good job,” McDermott said, via SI.com. “He’s been making progress, and it’s not just his time to step up, but all of his teammates around him. It’s not just one person’s job to fill the void left by Matt. You’re never going to replace a player like Matt or his influence, but now it’s time for our team to move forward in a resilient manner and support each other. Guys like Dorian need to step up.”
Bills Could Lose Matt Milano for Months
Matt Milano was initially sidelined during the team’s practice on Wednesday, and on Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that he might be out for most of the upcoming season.
“ESPN sources: Bills Pro-Bowl linebacker Matt Milano, who left Tuesday’s practice with an injury, has torn his bicep and will be out indefinitely,” Schefter wrote on X. “Milano is set to undergo surgery on his torn bicep, with the hope of potentially returning later in the season, possibly in December.”
Milano had been working hard to recover from a fractured leg that ended his 2023 season early in Week 5. McDermott noted that the All-Pro linebacker had made significant progress and was back on the field for training camp, though he was held out of the team’s first preseason game on August 10.
McDermott expressed that the new injury was particularly disheartening given Milano’s efforts to overcome his previous injury.
“That’s probably one of the hardest pills to swallow right now, seeing him work so hard to get back… and now this happens,” McDermott said, via The Associated Press. “He’s resilient, and we’ve got to be resilient too. We need to move forward and focus on finding solutions.”
