Bills LB Bernard Cheering on Milano After Injury: 'His Voice Is Powerful!'

Originally posted on FanNation Bills Central
By Jonathan Alfano | Last updated 11/17/23

The Buffalo Bills have been ravaged by injuries this season, but no loss has hurt more than that of star linebacker Matt Milano.

Milano just had his first All-Pro season in 2022, and has been the heart and soul of the Bills' defense for several years. He was on pace for another great season before his season-ending leg injury in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, recording 30 total tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble in the five games he played.

Although Milano isn't on the field, his impact is still very much felt in the Bills' locker room . Fellow linebacker Terrel Bernard, who formed a strong duo with Milano early in the season but is now carrying the weight for both of them, spoke about the veteran's influence even after the injury.

“I talk to him every day… He’s giving us tips, giving me little things to work on and things that he sees during the game that I can work on," Bernard told reporters. "He has been everything you expect a leader to be … His voice is super powerful.”

Bernard, a 2022 third-round pick out of Baylor, is in the midst of a breakout season. The second-year linebacker has a team-high 93 total tackles, two interceptions, three sacks and three fumble recoveries. With Milano out, the Bills needed Bernard to step up, and he certainly has been.

However, there's no way to truly replace a player like Milano. Even as soon as the injury happened, Buffalo players were extremely vocal about how much their leader on defense means to them.

"You can talk about next man up, it does hurt for sure," safety Micah Hyde said in October. "All-Pro Lano, that's what we call him because he is All-Pro. He's sideline to sideline, making plays on the ball and you've seen it in the first five weeks of the season."

As much as Milano would love to be on the field, seeing his junior linebacker ball out has to make him proud.

This article first appeared on FanNation Bills Central and was syndicated with permission.

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