Von Miller’s 2023 season was nothing short of a complete frustration. The three-time All-Pro recorded only three total tackles last year.
Miller earned the moniker “The Closer” for his ability to provide the final major play against an opponent’s quarterback. That went by the wayside, as Miller did not record a sack last year. Zero.
All of this followed the second ACL tear in Miller’s career. The veteran tore his ACL during Buffalo’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions in 2022.
He returned to the field in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023. It was apparent, though, that Miller was far from 100-percent in his return to the field.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Miller revealed the struggles he had during his post-injury return. He reflected on this idea:
It’s crazy how you get injured, and you come back, and you really shouldn’t have even been playing, and people judge you by a product on the field. I could have easily sat out all of last season, but I couldn’t do my teammates like that. I felt like being later in my career, I didn’t want to sacrifice any of my years. But at the same time, I shouldn’t have been out there.
Miller signed a six-year, $120 million contract with Buffalo in 2022. Following Miller’s struggles last year, he accepted a renegotiated contract with Buffalo. Even so, Buffalo’s financial commitment to Miller is high.
Even with the updated contract, Bleacher Report views Miller’s financial situation as the fifth-worst contract in the NFL this year.
Miller knows he has to be better this year. He added:
I feel like people are judging me on that, so it’s making me a little bit angry, to be honest. It’s making me tap into a Von that I haven’t been in a while. I just want to get back to playing my style of football. Get back to talking s***, f****** making sacks, dancing, and making plays for my teammates. That’s been my whole mindset this offseason.
Buffalo hopes Miller will return to form. A year removed from the injury gives the Bills a glimmer of hope that the veteran can produce more like his younger self.
Miller concluded the interview by saying, “the biggest team goal is bringing the first Super Bowl to Buffalo. Everyone feels like they deserve it, and they work hard, but Buffalo Bills fans and Western New York they deserve it… man. These guys deserve it, and I’m going to do everything in my power to give it to them.”
For this to happen, Miller must produce when on the field. Otherwise, Miller’s time in Buffalo may come to a close well before the conclusion of his initial blockbuster contract.