Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) – With Von Miller being placed on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the 2023 season, he is going to miss, at least, the first four games of the year.
Following Wednesday's practice in Orchard Park, Miller said his surgically-repaired knee was cleared by Dr. Dan Cooper two days before Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane had to make a roster decision.
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As it turns out, though, Miller felt he wasn’t ready for football.
"Just because the knee’s ready doesn’t mean the rest of the body is ready," said Miller in front of the assembled media.
When it comes to the decision Beane made to start Miller on the PUP list, the veteran pass rusher is just fine with it.
"I didn’t have no pride ether way that it went," Miller said. "Of course I wanted to play, but the ultimate goal is to get to the playoffs and have success deep into the playoffs and to win the Super Bowl. So ultimately, it wasn’t my decision, but I want to do whatever it takes to win."
Just because the knee is ready for contact, Miller says that doesn’t mean it’s time to get into a game just yet.
"There’s still a whole list of things that you have to do to get to pads and 1-on-1 pass rush. Brandon Beane was conscious of those things, so if it takes four more weeks or longer, I’m fine with that," he said. "That’s why Beane is one of the greatest. He’s able to make great decisions like that, and that’s why Von isn’t making decisions. And all the decisions that he’s made has gotten us to this point."
Sometimes players have a hard time getting back mentally from injury, but Miller says he’s the opposite.
"I feel good, and mentally I’m at a better place than I’ve ever been in my career," Miller admitted. "You just chip away at it. The body is going to do what it’s going to do, and I’m in a great spot."
Miller can’t predict if he’ll be ready to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in London for Game 5 of the season. All he’s going to do it trust the process.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen also spoke on Wednesday. While he wouldn't say Sauce Gardner’s name when asked about him, he did acknowledge the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year.
"I know No. 1 is great. He’s a great player and gets a lot of credit," said Allen following practice. "They’ve game planned pretty well the last couple of times we’ve played them, and we’ll have our hands full."
Now the question is why did the Jets defense handle the Bills offense so well in their two meetings last season? Allen seems to know why.
"You just boil it down to some really dumb decisions on my part in making sure that I’m trusting the 10 guys around me, and not putting the ball in harm’s way and giving them short fields," Allen admitted.
Allen will have a rookie second-round pick starting at guard on Monday night, as O’Cyrus Torrence has won the job over Ryan Bates after a stout performance throughout training camp and the preseason.
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