PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Von Miller is closer to feeling like Von Miller of seasons past
“I’m feeling good," Miller said after the Bills second day of training camp. "I haven’t felt like this in two years.”
For Miller, a player with a Hall of Fame career, normalcy is a good thing this year.
“Coming out here, getting my first rep at training camp I felt good," Miller said. "Just able to do run stunts inside, run stunt inside and not guard my knee and not think about anyone running into my knee, I felt good. Being able to go through football practice like a normal person feels good, it feels special.”
That’s because Miller didn’t have that normalcy last season.
Fighting his way back from knee surgery, he returned in Week 5, but wasn’t the Miller fans were used to seeing. He didn’t record a sack, and didn’t have the impact he or the team hoped for.
“I’m Von Miller, I’m kind of measured by sacks," he said. "I didn’t make any last year. I had three tackles. Probably should not have played last year. At 34, to sit out a season and a half, it just wasn’t on my mind.”
Miller is an eternal optimist. He said he hoped last season had gone better, but through the struggles, he learned patience as he continued to work to get better.
Now in a much better place health wise, Miller also has a newfound gratitude for what he’s able to do on the football field.
“With those things being taken away from you, whenever you get them back, they just mean more," Miller said. "They’re able to highlight what is to come and the type of player I can still be.”
Miller said he started feeling like himself last year against Kansas City in the playoffs, the very last game of the season.
This season, he hopes to feel like himself right from the jump.
“From a starting point this year, I’m way better than where I was last year," Miller said. "It feels like Year 1 to me when I first got here. I’m just ready to play football and go out there and make plays with my teammates.”