The Buffalo Bills will once again have to make due without the backbone of their defense with linebacker Matt Milano out indefinitely and expected to miss at least the first few months of the season with a torn left biceps.

Bills coach Sean McDermott called it “an unfortunate situation,” in providing the update on Milano before Buffalo opened a joint practice with the Steelers in advance of Saturday’s preseason game on Saturday.

Milano was hurt when it appeared his arm was hit during a routine tackling drill on Tuesday. He is scheduled to have surgery and, barring complications, has a chance to return by December.

The injury is the latest setback for the 30-year-old. Milano was being eased back since being cleared to resume practice in mid-June after recovering from a broken right leg, which forced him to miss the final 12 games of last season.

“That’s probably one of the hardest pills to swallow right now, is we just saw him work his butt off ... and now this happened,” McDermott said. “He’s resilient and we’ve got to be resilient. We’ve got to move forward and be focused on solutions.”

Patriots trade four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Judon to Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons have acquired four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Matthew Judon from the New England Patriots for a third-round draft pick, the teams announced Thursday.

Judon had 28 sacks in his first two seasons with the Patriots before finishing with four in four games last year, when he was limited by injuries.

Judon became available because of a contract dispute. He has a base salary of $6.5 million this season and is seeking a new deal.

The Falcons needed a pass rusher to bolster a defense that hasn’t had a player with double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley had 15 1/2 in 2016.

Judon, who turned 32 on Thursday, played his first five seasons in Baltimore. He had 34 1/2 sacks for the Ravens and made two of his four Pro Bowls. He thrived in Bill Belichick’s defense in New England, making a career-high 15 1/2 sacks in 2022.

The Falcons pursued the trade for Judon after losing rookie edge rusher Bralen Trice to a season-ending knee injury in their first preseason game at Miami.

• The Dallas Cowboys acquired veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips from the New York Giants in a trade also involving two 2026 draft picks. The Cowboys are also getting a seventh-round pick in 2026 while the Giants will get a sixth-round choice.

Ravens hire Riversider Warhop to help coach the offensive line

Riverside native George Warhop was hired Wednesday by the Baltimore Ravens to coach the offensive line on an interim basis after Joe D’Alessandris was hospitalized over the weekend for an unspecified illness.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said D’Alessandris, 70, had surgery during the summer and will require treatment for an extended period.

The Ravens are the ninth team for Warhop, who has coached in the NFL since 1996.