'If it's on me, we'll be good': Always-optimistic Von Miller expects to rebound for Bills
The Buffalo Bills’ veteran edge rusher is unfailingly positive, but the last 21 months have challenged that sunny outlook. Miller’s recovery from the second ACL tear of his NFL career, suffered on Thanksgiving Day during the 2022 season against Detroit, has been anything but a straight line.
It would be hard to find a more optimistic person than Von Miller.
The Buffalo Bills’ veteran edge rusher is unfailingly positive, but the last 21 months have challenged that sunny outlook. Miller’s recovery from the second ACL tear of his NFL career, suffered on Thanksgiving Day during the 2022 season against Detroit, has been anything but a straight line.
“It definitely hasn’t. I was expecting to come back in seven months like I did on the first ACL, but you know, recovering from an ACL at 34 is a little bit different than 24,” Miller said in a one-on-one interview with The Buffalo News last week. “It’s coming along, though, so any progress is better than no progress. I would have liked for it to have been faster, but I’m right where I need to be.”
Bills edge rusher Von Miller, middle, admitted he probably shouldn’t have played last season. But now he is ready to go. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
While Miller’s optimistic outlook has been challenged during his rehab, it’s not entirely gone, either.
“I would be lying if I said it hasn’t (been challenged), but that’s the only way I know is to be optimistic about everything, whether that’s on the football field or off the football field,” he said. “My odds are better being optimistic. When you’re negative, it’s just going to be whatever it’s going to be. I hate people that are negative and expect a positive result. I just try to be positive result. I like to live on that side of life.”
Miller is entering his 14th NFL season, and it’s safe to say expectations for him have never been lower. In 12 games last year in the regular season, Miller finished with a still-hard-to-believe three tackles. He has admitted since the season ended that he probably should not have been on the field – which anyone who watched the team’s games would agree.
As a result, the Bills and Miller agreed to a reworked contract in which his base pay was cut from $17.5 million to $8.855 million. Miller didn’t have to agree, because his deal guaranteed him $10.71 million for the 2024 season. He has the opportunity to earn back the money he gave up through incentives – which would benefit both the team and player if he hits them.
“When it’s time to go, I can definitely get myself to go,” Miller said. “It’s just the consistency every single day. I don’t think that’s just with my knee, I think that’s just where I’m at in my career, Year 14, you know, you’re going to have some ups and some down days. You’re going to feel achy some days and you’re going to feel good some days. The trick is feeling good on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays.
To that end, the Bills have been very intentional with Miller’s workload. He was the only player on the roster not to appear in a preseason game for a reason other than injury.
“I really like the way we’ve managed his reps. So we’ve been very intentional and calculated with when he goes and when he goes hard,” head coach Sean McDermott said. “I think with that, in addition to Von’s hard work that he’s put in here, is I’ve seen a ratcheting up of his return to form.
“I’m sure he would say, ‘Hey, still working through some things,’ and still trying to get back to really where he wants to be. I think that just comes over time. So, been pleased to this point and excited about where it’s going.”
Miller credited Nate Breske, the Bills’ head athletic trainer, with developing a plan that keeps him fresh.
“I feel good,” Miller said. “I practice hard. I push myself in practice so whenever game time comes, I’ll be ready for that.”
It’s easy to forget that Miller was off to a great start in 2022 before getting hurt. He had eight sacks in 11 games before getting hurt, providing the type of impact plays the team hoped he would provide when it signed him to a six-year contract. Miller turned 35 in March, so expecting him to return to his prime is unrealistic. Edge rushers have shown, however, that they can be impactful into their mid 30s, so if Miller’s optimism is realized and he can regain some of his production, it will be a huge boost to the entire defense.
“Confidence never wavered. I was confident last year when I was on the field. The end product is what it was last season,” he said. “It’ll be way better this year. If it’s on me, we’ll be good.”
