BUFFALO, NY – Bills middle linebacker Terrel Bernard suffered a strained pectoralis major in Thursday night’s win over the Miami Dolphins, but the injury is not expected to be season-ending for him, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.

According to sources, Bernard is a candidate for the injured list as he could be out for about a month.

Just two weeks into the 2024 season, Bernard becomes the third Bills defensive lineman to miss an injury, joining nickel cornerback Taron Johnson (forearm), who was not placed on the injured list, and linebacker Matt Milano (torn biceps), who is on the injured list and will be out for months.

Tests revealed the extent of Bernard’s injury after he left the Bills’ 31-10 victory in the first quarter and did not return. The 2022 third-round pick earned the team’s middle linebacker position in the 2023 offseason after Tremaine Edmunds left the team as a free agent, and Bernard started all 17 games last year.

Bernard, 25, is one of two team captains this year, along with quarterback Josh Allen.

Baylon Spector, a 2022 seventh-round pick, came in for Bernard and was tied with the team leader with 10 tackles.

“I hate to say ‘next man up’ because you can’t replace those guys; TB is our captain,” Von Miller said of Bernard. “He’s the heart of that defense. We already lost Matt Milano, so it’s going to be tough to fill that void, but those young guys, man, you’ve got to give it to them. Baylon Spector came in and he did it. He held the defense together.”