Sources: No ACL tear, no timeline for Bills’ Miller

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Bills pass-rusher Von Miller did not tear an ACL during the team’s 28-25 win over the Detroit Lions on Thursday, but he is considered out indefinitely while he gathers more opinions on his right knee injury, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.

Miller will miss at least one to two weeks, sources said, with the possibility that he is out for the rest of the 2022 season. Sources say that Miller will continue to receive medical opinions and is not expected to make a decision on the best way forward with his knee injury.

The injury, to the same knee in which Miller tore an ACL in 2013, means the Bills will be without Miller for at least the start of a key stretch against AFC East opponents. The Bills play at the New England Patriots on Dec. 1 before hosting the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. The Bills are currently 0-2 in division play.

“If he misses a couple games or whatever, or if he’s playing next week, I just hope he’s still around,” defensive tackle Ed Oliver said after Thursday’s game. “I hope his presence, and I hope he is still leading us from behind the scenes. A guy like that is a great guy. It doesn’t matter if he’s coaching, watching, or playing — just having him around, his positive energy, his positive attitude, and the messages he sends to us, it doesn’t matter. It’s infectious to have a guy like this around. “

Miller was injured with less than three minutes left in the first-half. He appeared to have been rolled up. He quickly sank to his knees and spoke briefly with trainers on the field. He spent several minutes in a medical tent on the sideline, before being taken to the locker room.

He was seen walking slowly to the Bills’ locker area after leaving Ford Field’s X-ray room. He didn’t have a walking boot and wasn’t using crutches.

Replacing Miller will be no easy task. Miller ranks third in the NFL in quarterback pressures (38) behind Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (46) and Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon (36). No other Bills player has more than 12 pressures, with Miller’s 26 pressure gap the largest in the NFL this season.

The Bills are also dealing with injuries to defensive ends Greg Rousseau (ankle) and A.J. Epenesa (ankle). Shaq Lawson and Boogie Basham are the only other defensive ends on the active roster, while Mike Love was called up from the practice squad for Thursday’s game.

“Next Man Up” Lawson spoke out about the team’s mentality after Miller fell. “I mean, shoot, everyone put their socks on and drawers on as well. I mean, everybody didn’t blink, as if we were just waiting for the next man. I was ready for the moment. I made the most of every opportunity. “

Without Miller the interior defensive line put on a strong performance. Defensive tackles Oliver and DaQuan Jones were responsible for the team’s only sacks, and each had two quarterback hits while combining for three tackles for loss. Oliver’s sack led to a safety and he also forced a turnover and recovered it.

A 12th-year veteran and the Super Bowl 50 MVP, Miller was signed in the offseason to fill a major need for the Bills. Miller was interested in joining the Bills because he had been granted free agency for the first-time in his NFL career. A six-year, $120 million contract was agreed to that links the 33-year-old to the Bills for the next three years and then provides more flexibility.

Miller leads the Bills in sacks (eight), pass rush win rate (23.7%) and pressure percentage (14.6%). Miller missed all of the 2020 season because of an ankle injury and has not played a full season since 2018.

“He has been a great addition for our team in many ways. Coach Sean McDermott stated last week that Von is a true team player and that he has not played a full season since 2018. He does everything asked of him, he serves his teammates and does it in the best way he can. He’s a star, if you will. He’s very low-key around the facility, and one of the guys. “