Broncos linebacker Von Miller never thought he would be among the 681,000 confirmed Americans diagnosed with COVID-19. “I was shocked,” Miller told Sheinelle Jones Friday during an appearance on NBC’s The Today Show. “We’ve been taking this serious since Day 1.”
Miller, an eight-time Pro Bowler who led the Broncos to Super Bowl glory in 2016 (he was that game’s MVP), was training in San Francisco when the coronavirus outbreak began in the United States. After San Francisco became one of the first U.S. cities to enact a stay-at-home order, Miller returned to Denver, where he has been for the past four weeks. “Within that four weeks, I’ve probably left the house four times,” said Miller, who never left his car on any of those occasions. “I’ve had people come in and out like workers, maids, people that come do the plumbing. Just everyday stuff, but it was really nothing crazy.”
Luckily the nine-year vet has experienced only mild symptoms and said he woke up feeling much better Friday. “It all started with just a simple cough and it got worse,” said Miller, a long-time asthma sufferer. “My girlfriend, she was telling me that I wasn’t sounding normal and I should try my nebulizer.” After the nebulizer—a breathing aid that Miller routinely uses before games and practices—proved ineffective, the 31-year-old got tested for the virus, learning his results two days later.
“We shouldn’t move too fast,” said Miller when asked about the possibility of playing in empty stadiums when the NFL resumes play. “We should do whatever is safe.” Along with Miller, Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen has also been diagnosed with COVID-19. Saints coach Sean Payton battled the illness last month, but has since recovered.
Miller shared an Instagram story Thursday night thanking his nearly two million followers for the outpouring of support he’s received since going public with his illness. He also cautioned fans to “take this seriously,” adding “It’s definitely FOR REAL.”
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