One of Buffalo's best defensive players is back on the team's 53-man roster and will have a chance to play this week on Sunday Night Football.
2022 NFL All-Pro LB Matt Milano has been activated off injured reserve (IR) ahead of the Buffalo Bills Week 13 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. He is still listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game.
Buffalo is also elevating QB Mike White and TE Zach Davidson from the practice squad and downgrading DT DeWayne Carter (IR/wrist) to out.
Milano has missed the Bills' first 11 games of the 2024 season due to a biceps injury and hasn't played in a game since Week 5 of the 2023 season. The LB suffered a season-ending leg injury against the Jaguars in London last year.
Milano went through rehab in the offseason and practiced with the Bills during training camp at St. John Fisher this summer. He appeared to be on track to play Week 1 before suffering a bicep injury on Aug. 15; he was placed on IR on Aug. 27.
Needless to say, it's been a long journey back for one of Buffalo's most important defensive players.
"It feels good just to be out there with the guys, man. Be competing again and playing ball," Milano said after Wednesday's practice.
Milano has been a full participant in practice this week and his teammates have been excited to welcome him back.
"Just extremely happy for him, getting back out there and flying around and making some plays," QB Josh Allen said. "And he's battled quite a few things over the last year and a half. So, the boys are very happy for him, I'll tell you that."
Allen added: "Whether it's this week or next week when he steps foot on the field, he's going to be ready to go."
In his last full season (2022), Milano had 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 12 tackles for a loss and 7 QB hits. He was a Pro Bowl selection as well as an All-Pro selection for the first time in his career.
"The way Matt plays the game, the way he has played the game, is special," CB Taron Johnson said. "So having a guy like that on the field is going to make our defense tremendously better. So whether he's here this week or whenever that time comes, I'm just excited to have him back."
The Bills will announce whether or not Milano will be active for the game against the 49ers at 6:50 p.m. on Sunday.
Scroll to see photos of the 2024 Buffalo Bills My Cause My Cleats, an initiative that allows players and coaches to customize cleats with an organization of their choice to support a cause that is important to them.
