Buffalo Bills' Sean McDermott provides injury updates including Matt Milano

To say the Buffalo Bills have dealt with some injuries to start the year might be somewhat of an understatement.

A flurry of injuries struck during their training camp, some of which carried into the start of the regular season.

While the team has been off to a strong start at 4-1, they have not been at full strength, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Some of that defense was missed during their Week 5 division loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott gave some updates during his Monday afternoon press conference following the game.

The most notable of which was regarding one of Buffalo’s best but also most oft-injured forces in the linebackers group, Matt Milano, whose return to the field only lasted one half.

Milano re-aggravated the pectoral injury that had sidelined him for the two games before the matchup with New England, leaving the game and not returning. With his primary backup, Dorian Williams, out with a knee injury as well, LB Shaq Thompson was the next player up. Milano is now considered “week to week,” though he won’t be put on injured reserve.

“He tweaked that pec in the game yesterday, so he’ll be week to week,” McDermott said. “Nobody works harder than Matt Milano to stay healthy,” McDermott said. “Right now, it’s going to be next man up for this week.”

“I know it’s really tough on him,” added defensive coordinator Bobby Babich, who was also Milano’s position coach in 2022 and 2023.

The Bills have been without defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle) for their past several contests, and without his backup, T.J. Sanders (knee), on Sunday as well.

Of the defensive position groups, one that saw a number of additions this offseason, as well as a number of injuries, has been their defensive backs.

Cornerback Dorian Strong, who has made an early impact in next-man-up action himself this season, is now sidelined for at least four games as well.

The Bills placed the rookie on injured reserve Saturday due to a neck injury, sidelining him for a minimum of four games, and he will see a neck specialist this week to evaluate the severity of the injury, per McDermott.

“I don’t know much other than I don’t think anything at this point can be ruled out. So we’ll see where it goes,” McDermott said.

First round 2025 NFL Draft pick Maxwell Hairston has been out so far this season as well.

The injuries have struck across all three phases of the game, with starting kicker Tyler Bass and offensive lineman Tylan Grable having also missed time. They and Hairston were eligible to return to practice last week, but the Bills have not yet opened their 21-day practice windows.

McDermott noted decisions also have not yet been made on their status ahead of NFL Week 6, and he is “not ruling out” Sanders for that Monday Night Football matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

For a Monday game, NFL teams are required to submit a practice participation report on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The designation can be at three levels of participation in practice (did not participate, limited participation, and full participation).

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Injury update: Bills’ Sean McDermott on Matt Milano, other players

Buffalo Bills’ Sean McDermott provides injury updates including Matt Milano

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