Broncos’ Miller feeling 100% for season opener
Days away from returning to a regular-season NFL game for the first time since 2019, Von Miller admits “it’s a different Von” entering the outside linebacker’s 11th season.
The difference is a more finessed approach after Miller’s uber-intense offseason heading into 2020 turned into a season-ending ankle injury on Sept. 8, just before the Broncos’ season opener.
“Last year, I put the pedal to the metal and just grinded, and used so many different things for fuel,” Miller said. “I don’t think it was healthy for me. I grinded, I had two-a-days, I had threea-days, I hit the weight room. If I wasn’t in the weight room, I was on the track, then I’d go do football drills. I wouldn’t say I wore myself down into the ground, but I kind of put a lot of wear-and-tear on my body.
“Then when it was time to go for the season, I had a freak season-ending injury. So I took some of the positives I had from last season, like my work ethic and my mindset, and I applied them to this year. But I took a step back from grinding so hard and I put more of an emphasis on rehab, working on the little muscles, going back to the drawing board.”
Miller hopes the result will be a return to doubledigit sack totals as the veteran looks to earn another contract in Denver (he’s said during training camp he wants to be a career Bronco), pad his Hall of Fame resume and help the team get back into contention.
The 32-year-old’s Week 1 test is a matchup against Giants right tackle Nate Solder, who like Miller was also drafted in the first round in 2011. Miller said he’s “100% ready” for a full workload, especially considering Bradley Chubb might not play (or might be limited) with an ankle injury.