Bills LB Von Miller 'As Close As He's Ever Been' Says Coach
Will Von Miller be ready for the regular season?
With how the Buffalo Bills outside linebacker is preparing, his return may not be far off. Assistant head coach and defensive line coach Eric Washington said Miller has been as involved as he's ever been since he first joined the team last offseason.
"I see Von every day," Washington said. "He's a part of the meetings. He's a part of what we're doing ... I see Von getting himself ready to play just going back to the meeting that we just had. He was as active in that meeting as he's ever been. Giving feedback, talking about what we were detailing on the film. Von is getting himself ready to play and he's as close as he's ever been to the group."
Miller signed a six-year $120 million deal with just over $51 million guaranteed last offseason with Buffalo. The three-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler was living up to the deal with eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 11 games but he tore his ACL on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions.
How Buffalo handles Miller's recovery might be the team's biggest questions heading into roster cuts. The Bills' roster has to be cut down to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Aug. 29.
The 13-year pass rusher is currently on the physically unable to perform list.
If Miller is ready to play right away, he'll be moved off of the PUP. But if Miller begins the season on PUP, he'll miss Buffalo's first four games which are against the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins.
Regardless of the decision the team makes, Washington said the team will be ready.
"You always have to plan for attrition," Washington said. You have to have a contingency plan because attrition is real in this league whether it's Von or anybody else. You are always planning for the what if's and different scenarios that may present themselves based on player availability."
There's no disputing Miller's impact when he's healthy. If he's 100 percent, he should play on opening night on Sept. 11 against the Jets.
But if the 34-year-old is anything less than 100 percent, it would probably be in Miller's and Buffalo's best interest to keep him on PUP to begin the season and give him more time to recover.
Regardless of how much the Bills defense may miss him, rushing Miller back before he's ready would be disastrous for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
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