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Alaina GetzenbergESPN
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Payments pass-rusher Von Miller didn’t tear an ACL in the course of the staff’s 28-25 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday, however he’s thought-about out indefinitely whereas he gathers extra opinions on his proper knee damage, sources informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
Miller will miss at the very least one to 2 weeks, sources stated, with the chance that he’s out for the remainder of the 2022 season.
As he continues to assemble medical opinions, Miller will not be anticipated to make any fast choices about one of the best ways to proceed along with his knee damage, sources stated.
Coach Sean McDermott on Friday dominated Miller out just for the Payments’ upcoming recreation in opposition to the New England Patriots on Thursday, and he stated they may see the place issues go from there.
The damage, to the identical knee wherein Miller tore an ACL in 2013, means the Payments shall be with out Miller for at the very least the beginning of a key stretch in opposition to AFC East opponents. The Payments play on the New England Patriots on Dec. 1 earlier than internet hosting the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. The Payments are 0-2 in division play this season.
“If he misses a pair video games or no matter, or if he is taking part in subsequent week, I simply hope he is nonetheless round,” defensive deal with Ed Oliver stated after Thursday’s recreation. “I hope his presence, I hope he is nonetheless main us from the sidelines. You bought a man like that — it do not matter whether or not he taking part in, watching or teaching, it do not matter — simply having his presence, having his constructive power, the best way he carry himself, just like the messages that he painting to us. And simply having a man like that round is infectious.”
Miller suffered the damage with lower than three minutes remaining within the first half when he appeared to get rolled up on. He shortly went to a knee and spent a few minutes speaking to trainers on the sector. He spent a number of minutes within the medical tent on the sideline earlier than being carted off to the locker room.
He was seen leaving the X-ray room at Ford Area and walked slowly to the Payments’ locker room. He didn’t have a strolling boot on and was not utilizing crutches.
Changing Miller shall be no straightforward process. Miller ranks third within the NFL in quarterback pressures (38) behind Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (46) and Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon (36). No different Payments participant has greater than 12 pressures, with Miller’s 26 stress hole the most important within the NFL this season.
“[Miller’s] a future Corridor of Famer for a cause,” McDermott stated. “That stated, we have to maneuver ahead this week. And the particular person or the individuals accountable to step in and step up have gotten to do the job, and that is the best way it goes.”
The Payments are additionally coping with accidents to defensive ends Greg Rousseau (ankle) and A.J. Epenesa (ankle). Shaq Lawson and Boogie Basham are the one different defensive ends on the energetic roster, whereas Mike Love was known as up from the apply squad for Thursday’s recreation.
“Subsequent man up,” Lawson stated on the staff’s mentality when Miller went down. “I imply, shoot, all people put their socks and drawers on too. So, I imply, no one actually blinked, like we simply had the following man up. I used to be simply prepared for the second. I used to be taking essentially the most of my alternative.”
With out Miller, the inside defensive position put up a robust efficiency. Defensive tackles Oliver and DaQuan Jones have been liable for the staff’s solely sacks, and every had two quarterback hits whereas combining for 3 tackles for loss. Oliver’s sack resulted in a security, and he additionally compelled a fumble and recovered it.
A Twelfth-year veteran and the Tremendous Bowl 50 MVP, Miller was signed within the offseason to fill a significant want for the Payments. The staff lacked a dominant pass-rusher, and Miller had the Payments among the many groups he was interested by becoming a member of as he hit free company for the primary time in his NFL profession. A six-year, $120 million contract was agreed to that hyperlinks the 33-year-old to the Payments for the following three years after which supplies extra flexibility.
Miller leads the Payments in sacks (eight), go rush win charge (23.7%) and stress share (14.6%). Miller missed all the 2020 season due to an ankle damage and has not performed a full season since 2018.
“He is been an excellent addition to our staff in lots of methods, and I believe the largest factor that’s simply actually cool about Von is that he is such a staff participant,” McDermott stated final week. “He does every little thing that is requested, he serves and in the best way that he serves his teammates. So, and from a star issue, if you’ll, he is fairly low key across the facility and simply one of many guys.”
