Matt Milano had surgery for "significant bicep injury", out indefinitely

[Ethan in Cleveland]

23 hours ago, SCBills said:

I see a lot of people saying “well, if we get him back for the end of season/playoffs, that’s what matters”

 

….

 

What if Dorian Williams grows into the role?  I’m not pushing him out for Milano in that scenario. 
 

Dorian Williams has a chance to lock down that LB spot for good if he makes the jump.   And if he does, that’s that, imo. 

100% agree. We don't even know if Milano can play anymore coming off the leg/knee injury. If Williams is playing great then keep playing him and let Milano go this offseason. 

[jahnyc]

We now have two really bad contracts with Milano and Miller.  Not their fault that they have had tough injuries, but we really need to re-tool and I am wondering if we will need at least another season after this one to clean-up our cap situation.

[Slippery Rubber Mats]

3 minutes ago, jahnyc said:

We now have two really bad contracts with Milano and Miller.  Not their fault that they have had tough injuries, but we really need to re-tool and I am wondering if we will need at least another season after this one to clean-up our cap situation.

 

If Miller can get 7-8 sacks I'd be happy with that

[Beck Water]

16 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

I am not shooting the messenger as I appreciate you sharing, but how would that doctor know that information?

 

Mcdermott didn't sound optimistic at all when they asked if Milano would be back

 

Chou really wouldn't know.  He's making an educated guess based on his experience as the Chargers team doctor - during which tenure a number of players sued for mis-handled injuries.

Bangedup Bills has a blog post with pictures of the biceps anatomy and how it's repaired.  Whether or not you like him, the pictures are relevant and interesting.

Quote

Return to Play

This is the part that everyone wants to know. Based on the research available, it is all over the place. One source indicates that it takes nearly a year for a player to return to the field but gives several months leeway, as low as seven months.

Other articles are more aggressive stating that players could return in as little as two and a half months, though the average is just under four months. 

I do not expect the Bills to be super aggressive with Milano’s return as they stated that December could be a goal, I would clarify that as late December given the timelines we have. That would put him at the four month mark with extra time since it is mid-August. When he does return, he will have to wear a hinged brace to protect the still healing area. When he does return, he may have some difficulty in wrapping up tackles like we saw with his pectoral injury in 2020. 

However, upwards of 94 percent of players do return to play and there is not a drop off in performance once returning. Career lengths are shortened somewhat, playing up to three years after the injury, but this may be a natural progression for Milano as he is getting older. 

Fellow Bills defensive player DaQuan Jones also suffered a biceps tear in 2017 with the Tennessee Titans and has come back to play at an incredibly high level. 

Update:

I was unable to find anyone in season that suffered the injury and returned within the same season. However, two recent examples were close. The first one is former Patriots LB Matt Judon who tore his right biceps in Week 4 during the 2023 season.

He had said he would return in two months and after the season stated he was on track to play but the Patriots shut him down. He went on to state he would have been ready in 19 weeks later.
 

The other person is Chargers OT Rashawn Slater. He tore his left biceps in Week 3 of the 2022 season and was removed from IR ahead of the playoff game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Had they won, he would have played.

A return can be done but the timing of the injury is key.

 

Assuming Milano has surgery Monday or has already had surgery, 19 weeks (like Judon) would put him at the end of December, and bear in mind that's Judon saying "I would have been ready" and his team shutting him down.

 

[Punching Bag]

23 hours ago, Gregg said:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/3-last-minute-lbs-bills-can-target-to-fill-the-void-left-by-matt-milano/ar-AA1oRYCu?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=00e22aad926a41f6a798f73b2f589656&ei=9

 

All have injury issues and they should either be signed to incentive based contact "bet on yourself" or sighed after week 1.  It worked for a former CFL QB signed by Bills and hit every incentive in his contract.

1 hour ago, Beck Water said:

 

Assuming Milano has surgery Monday or has already had surgery, 19 weeks (like Judon) would put him at the end of December, and bear in mind that's Judon saying "I would have been ready" and his team shutting him down.

 

 

Not all biceps injuries are the same and all people do not heal at same rate.  Milano is an obsessive football player who works with specialist in offseason (I know him personally) and will be working hard to come back.   His specialist is in Buffalo and I expect him to be helping players learn defense.

[Beck Water]

20 hours ago, Punching Bag said:

Not all biceps injuries are the same and all people do not heal at same rate. 

 

Um, yes?  That was the point of the article I quoted and the examples Banged Up Bill gave.  Is there a reason you deleted the rest of my post and responded only to the earliest possible timeline Bangedup found?

 

20 hours ago, Punching Bag said:

Milano is an obsessive football player who works with specialist in offseason (I know him personally) and will be working hard to come back.   His specialist is in Buffalo and I expect him to be helping players learn defense.

 

I'm sure that's true, but I don't think it means he'll be back any sooner than the end of December - IF at all.  Remember that Milano wanted to take the field like 3 weeks after a partial pec tear in 2020.  Spoiler he wasn't effective, and after 2 ineffective games the Bills IR'd him.