How is it that an ‘exploratory’ operation ended Von Miller’s season with the Buffalo Bills?
Truly unfortunate news for both the player and the team. How the Bills will respond to this blow remains to be seen, but it’s certainly not going to be easy.
What should have been a relatively routine operation resulted in a situation where the Bills will now have to do without the services of their star DE for the rest of the season.
Bills’ Von Miller to miss rest of NFL season.
According to comments from Buffalo Bills head coach Sean Mcdermott on Tuesday, defensive end Von Miller will miss the rest of the season after an exploratory operation ended in an unexpected procedure to repair his ACL. Miller suffered a knee injury in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions. During the first half of the game, a Detroit offensive lineman hit his leg from the side on a pass play, which resulted in his leg being rolled up in the motion. Miller was subsequently carted off of the field and ruled out of the rest of the game shortly after.
Ironically, reports initially ruled out an ACL tear Miller himself took to his podcast where he said he hoped to return by Week 14. The Bills then placed the 33-year-old on the injured reserve, but just a week have now been forced to announce that Miller will not play again in this campaign. Sadly, this not the first time Miller has suffered an ACL tear. Fans will recall, the DE suffered the said same injury in the very same knee, during the 2013 season, before going on to be named Super Bowl MVP just two seasons later. Following a midseason trade to the eventual Super Bowl champions, Los Angeles Rams, Miller was acquired by the Bills in a six-year, $120 million deal during the offseason.
Bills back Miller who remains determined
Speaking on the less-than-ideal situation that their star defensive player faces, Mcdermott was open about what Miller’s worth is and the support of the team. “Unfortunate situation, for Von, obviously, and our team. Care for him, obviously, like we would any player,” McDermott said. “We know how much this means to him in terms of playing and being with the team, so we look forward to getting him back, obviously off the field for the rest of the season and his leadership, and we’re certainly thinking about him as he recovers here.”
To date, Miller had a team-leading eight sacks across the Bills’ first eight games. With his season now over, he will conclude this campaign with 21 combined tackles, 12 quarterback hits, two passes defensed and one forced fumble in 11 games. In a message that he shared from the hospital, the Bills player was both positive and determined saying, “I’m excited for the opportunity to show my teammates how tough I am, how hard I work and how important that this means to me. Don’t blink! I’ll be back.”