Here’s what I’ll be keeping an eye on from a Buffalo perspective when the Bills take on the 49ers tonight.
The Bills will have star linebacker Matt Milano – one of the most identifiable defensive players of the Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane era in Buffalo – available for the first time tonight since early October 2023. The nearly 14-month layoff featured a season-ending leg injury in 2023, followed by a torn biceps injury suffered just weeks before the Bills kicked off their 2024 season. Milano has been one of their best players for years, and once he’s at full strength, will likely serve as their every-down starter at outside linebacker. But what is fair to expect in his first game back? Back in 2020, the Bills brought Milano back from a stint on injured reserve, and they eased him back in after only a three-game absence. That approach involved Milano subbing in on passing downs, while ceding snaps to his usual backup on early downs. Since his layoff this time was over a year, a similar approach would make sense, with second-year linebacker Dorian Williams still getting early-down work.
