Home / Sports / Bills Linebacker Battle Heats Up
Bills Linebacker Battle Heats Up
16 Jun
Summary
- Bills consider bringing back veteran linebackers Milano or Thompson.
- Dorian Williams and Kaleb Elarms-Orr expected to compete for a starting spot.
- Milano (31) and Thompson (32) bring experience but also age concerns.
The Buffalo Bills may add to their inside linebacker competition before training camp begins. Two potential veteran additions are free agents Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson, who both played over 400 defensive snaps for the team in 2025.
Milano, a former fifth-round pick, spent nine years with the Bills but has been hampered by injuries, playing in only 21 games over the past three seasons. Thompson, meanwhile, provided steady defense last year, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 68.8.
However, both players are on the older side, with Milano at 31 and Thompson at 32. This contrasts with the Bills' apparent desire to get younger, evidenced by the emergence of Dorian Williams and 2026 fourth-round pick Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who are expected to vie for a starting position.
Other linebackers on the roster include Joe Andreessen, Keonta Jenkins, and Jimmy Ciarlo. Adding Thompson, Milano, or even both could bolster a position that remains a concern for new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as the Bills prepare for their September 13th Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans.
