Chiefs vs. Bills: Buffalo won't get Pro Bowl defender back in time for Week 11

The Buffalo Bills are certainly glad to see linebacker Matt Milano take the next step on his road to recovery, but the team will still be without their star defender when the Kansas City Chiefs come to visit Orchard Park in Week 11.

The Chiefs and Bills are scheduled for a Sunday afternoon showdown that will be the talk of the NFL for the next week—a game between AFC powers that has been circled on the calendar for even casual fans of the game. Both teams will be without key contributors, however, as injuries have taken their toll on even the most talent-laden rosters.

The Buffalo Bills got some good news on Matt Milano but he won't return in time to play the Chiefs on Sunday.

The Bills have been without Milano for the entire season so far, a frustrating reality given that he's one of the best coverage linebackers in the league. The Bills defense is so much stronger with him in the middle of the field due to his instincts and intelligence, a savvy veteran who has gotten better with age and experience in the league.

Milano made his first Pro Bowl in 2022 and he broke out as one of Buffalo's best defenders on a team that was earning national attention. However, a fractured leg took its toll in '23 and robbed him of all but five games. He worked his way back to health only to hear more bad news this preseason with a completely separate injury—a torn bicep in practice that required surgery. Just like that, he was out indefinitely in 2024 as well.

The good news for the Bills is that Milano is on his way back. The team has officially opened his practice window and the team has 21 days in which to activate him or send him back to injured reserve for the rest of the season. However, head coach Sean McDermott did say on Monday that Milano would not be back on the field after this first week of practice and would miss the Chiefs game.

The Chiefs and Bills are scheduled to face off at 3:25 p.m. C.T. on Sunday, November 17.