
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed Monday that the Bills would be without injured linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones for an indefinite period.
Both players sustained injuries during a 25-20 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. McDermott said both would be unavailable, with Milano needing surgery for a leg injury and Jones requiring surgery for a pectoral injury.
“Injury update for you, Matt Milano, it’s a knee, lower leg injury,” McDermott said. “I know it’s not looking good right now, but I don’t know any details beyond that at this point.”
Milano injured his leg during a play in the first quarter. He received initial treatment on the field and was then taken off on a cart with a protective brace on his right leg. Jones injured his torn pectoral muscle later in the same half.
Their injuries add to Buffalo’s recent defensive setbacks, with starting cornerback Tre’Davious White already out for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon sustained against the Miami Dolphins the previous weekend. Another starting cornerback, Christian Benford, missed Sunday’s game due to a shoulder injury.
The Bills were also without two edge rushers, Greg Rousseau and Shaq Lawson, due to foot and toe injuries, respectively.
This season, Milano had already racked up 27 tackles, one forced fumble, and two interceptions before Week 5. In Sunday’s loss, he contributed three solo tackles before being carted off the sideline.
During the first five games, Jones notched five quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks, putting him on track to sur his career-best stats of 11 quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks. His performance was key in the Bills leading the league with 21 sacks, even without star edge rusher Von Miller for the first four games.
With Jones out, the Bills will rely more on starter Ed Oliver and backups like Jordan Phillips and Tim Settle. The Bills have limited choices in the linebacker department, with rookie Dorian Williams initially filling in for Milano and fourth-year player Tyrel Dodson. A.J. Klein from the practice squad could also step in for Milano.
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