ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Tests on Buffalo Bills star pass-rusher Von Miller‘s injured right knee showed no tear to the anterior cruciate ligament, a person with direct knowledge of the injury told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Friday because the team did not reveal that information. Coach Sean McDermott declined to provide any details on the injury suffered a day earlier except to rule out Miller from playing against New England next week.
“We’re going to take it a week at a time,” McDermott said, while noting Miller will have further tests.
ESPN first reported the test results on Miller.
Miller was hurt late in the second quarter of Buffalo’s 28-25 win over the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. He was pushing his way through the right side of the Lions’ line when his knee bent awkwardly at the same time center Frank Ragnow stepped on Miller’s right ankle.
Miller was able to walk off the field on his own, and he was examined briefly on the sideline before being carted off. The Bills finished the game with just three defensive ends, with Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa not playing due to ankle injuries.
Buffalo (8-3) has won two straight since a two-game skid, and it travels to play Patriots (6-5). The Bills are scheduled to return to practice on Sunday.
Miller is the NFL’s active leader in sacks with 123 1/2, and he ranks 19th on the career list. He leads Buffalo with eight sacks, which are tied for 10th in the NFL entering this weekend.
The Bills made a major splash by signing the 33-year-old to a six-year contract in March after Miller won his second Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams. Miller spent his first 10-plus years in Denver before being traded to Los Angeles.
The injury could be the second significant one for Miller in three years. He missed the entire 2020 season with an ankle injury. Otherwise, he’s proven durable, playing 15 or more games in 10 of his 12 NFL seasons. The injury is to the same knee that forced Miller to miss seven games in 2013.
His injury will further test the depth of a Bills’ defense that hasn’t been healthy all season.
The injuries have depleted Buffalo’s secondary in particular. Starting safety Micah Hyde is on injured reserve after hurting his neck in Week 2. And Buffalo finally welcomed back starting cornerback Tre’Davious White on Thursday. He was eased in by playing 16 snaps against the Lions in his first game since tearing a ligament in his left knee a year ago on Thanksgiving.
The strains have shown on defense, which has allowed 300-plus yards offense in each of its past seven games. It’s the worst stretch since an eight-game run in 2017 during Sean McDermott’s first season as coach.
Buffalo has allowed 21 or more first downs in eight straight games, which marks the worst run in franchise history.
