The Matt Milano Injury Can Shape the Bills' Approach to the Trade Deadline

In the world of sports, injuries are unfortunately universal. Whether you're a championship contender or a cellar-dweller, a stroke of bad luck can change the course of your season. The best teams, however, are capable of responding to bad luck.

That's where the Buffalo Bills currently find themselves.

While Josh Allen and his offense may earn most of the headlines, the Bills' defense has been a large part of the club's recent success. And Matt Milano has been a key presence at the heart of that unit. The linebacker, however, is now sidelined by a leg injury.

That blow would hamstring even the deepest defense, but with Super Bowl aspirations, the Bills can't afford to sit on their collective hands. With the NFL trade deadline less than a week away, Buffalo will have a decision to make.

The Milano Injury Changes the Bills' Defense

Football is a team sport, but certain players find a way to leave their fingerprints all over a game. Milano is one of those talents.

During his six-plus seasons in Western New York, the linebacker has recorded 488 total tackles, 10 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries. He's also a well-loved leader within the organization.

"Just kind of like a gut punch, man," rookie Dorien Williams said after Milano was injured during Buffalo's trip to London. "I mean, we all love Mad Matt. Matt's a well-loved guy in the entire building, just how much he's done for me in this program. Just teaching me the little things and how tough of a guy he is. It definitely hurts to see him go down."

That injury, which looked bad at the time, still seems to be rather serious. Milano has been ruled out indefinitely and head coach Sean McDermott has suggested that things are a bit more complex than an ordinary injury.

And that's bad news for Buffalo on more than an emotional level. Their veteran linebacker isn't just a leader; he's a key part of the club's defense and excels at locking down the middle of the field.

Given that the Bills have been a bit inconsistent in 2023—heading into Thursday Night Football, the club is sitting at 4-3 after a disappointing loss to the Patriots—there isn't room for resting on the club's collective laurels.

So, how can Buffalo address that at the trade deadline?

The Bills Can Target Offensive or Defensive Help

Given that Milano's injury has created a void in the center of Buffalo's defense, there are two different ways the organization can address their current reality at the trade deadline.

The first and more obvious route is trading for a direct replacement. While finding someone who can replace Milano's leadership might be tough, there are some linebackers out there. Jordan Hicks, for example, has been floated as a realistic trade target. Denver's Josey Jewell is also an impending free agent, should the Broncos decide to sell. Carolina's Justin Houston and Tennessee's Aziz Al-Shaair are also out of contract this offseason, making them potential rental options.

But let's suppose that Buffalo's brass decides that Milano brings so much to the table that it's not worth bringing in a less-than-ideal replacement. In that case, perhaps the best defense is an even stronger offense. Scoring more points than the opposition, after all, is how you win football games.

While it's easy to think of the current Bills as a high-octane offense, the club has lacked a secondary receiving option. Stefon Diggs is a genuine game-changer, but things fall off after his 55 receptions. Gabe Davis has found the end zone four times, but his 22 catches through seven games leave something to be desired. Tight end Dawson Knox will also be out indefinitely following wrist surgery, which doesn't help matters.

To that end, Buffalo could target a receiver at the deadline. Chasing DeAndre Hopkins would be some serious big-game hunting, but someone like Hunter Renfrow or Adam Theilen could be a less flashy way to add a secure pair of hands to the lineup.

Either way, though, Milano's absence could be the domino that gets the Bills moving at the trade deadline. A major injury is undeniably bad luck, but Buffalo's brass still has some time to lessen the hit.

And, with some of the league's top teams lurking elsewhere in the AFC, there's no room for complacency.

Correction 10/27/2023, 7 a.m. ET: This article was updated to correct the spelling of the names of Buffalo's wide receiver and tight end. Their names are Stefon Diggs and Dawson Knox.