Jacksonville Jaguars rookie linebacker Ventrell Miller tears Achilles, ending season

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson revealed on Monday that rookie linebacker Ventrell Miller ruptured his Achilles in the game versus the Dolphins this weekend, effectively ending his season before it started.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Miller in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and had high hopes for him out of the gate.

Miller had offseason foot surgery, so he got off to a slow start in camp. Since gaining clearance, he was involved on special teams and flashed in the first two preseason games, including recording a sack against the Cowboys.

The news of the rookie’s injury comes just two days before the team must reduce the roster to 53 players from the 90-man preseason roster. Although he won’t be able to contribute this season, Miller can go on the injured reserve, so the Jaguars don’t need to release him to free up a roster spot for someone else.

The Jacksonville Jaguars begin the 2023 season with a road game versus the Indianapolis Colts, led by rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. In Week 2, they face the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Kansas City Chiefs, before taking on another rookie quarterback in CJ Stroud with the Houston Texans.

The Jaguars had a momentous return to the playoffs in the 2022 season thanks to second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Despite preseason injuries and roster cuts, there is a lot to like about Jacksonville for 2023.

Jaguars lose Miller for season

Miller spent six years at Florida, starring for the Gators at middle linebacker from 2019-22 after breaking into the starting lineup.

He earned the SEC Defensive Player of the Week award twice during the 2020 season for the Gators. In five playing seasons, Miller racked up 240 tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and eight passes defended.

Miller started 33 games, with the lone thing keeping him from even bigger contributions a torn biceps that derailed his 2021 campaign just two games in.

But for all of Miller’s production at Florida, he wasn’t a blue-chip prospect as a recruit.

Miller checked in as a three-star prospect and the No. 502 overall player in the nation in the 2017 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He was ranked as the No. 58 linebacker in his class and the No. 69 player in the state of Florida, hailing from Lakeland (Fla.) Kathleen.