Von Miller to play against Broncos for first time since leaving Denver

Von Miller helped the Broncos win a Super Bowl and repped Denver in eight Pro Bowls. The pass rushing specialist was beloved in the Mile High City.

But it’s 2023 and Miller hasn’t played for the Broncos since about this time, 2021. Since then. he won a Super Bowl with the Rams and now he’s trying to work the same championship magic with the Bills.

This Sunday will be the first time that Von Miller meets his old team, the one that drafted the former Texas A&M superstar with the No. 2 pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. This time, he’ll help play host to the Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY.

And there are at least a couple of Broncos who still remember Miller. OK, it hasn’t been that long, but since the Broncos traded him away, Denver has changed ownership. Plus, the team has fired its head coach, twice. Maybe there’s still enough folks around wearing orange and blue to feel some sweet Miller nostalgia.

“The name Von Miller speaks for itself,’’ Broncos offensive guard Quinn Meinerz told reporters this week. Meinerz was a rookie in Miller’s final few games in Denver.

“He’s a phenomenal player. I think it’s going to be cool to be sharing the field against him. He’s probably excited, or whatever, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to go against the entire Bills defense, and they’ve got a great defense over there.”

Cornerback Patrick Surtain also was a rookie in 2021, Miller’s final season in Denver. He remembers.

“Von was a great teammate, a great leader, a great mentor,” Surtain said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him again on the field. Obviously, it’s going to be different not seeing him in orange and blue but it’s going to be great seeing him overall.”

We’re thinking Von Miller probably would want to be playing better before he entertains some very important guests. But he’s coming off an ACL injury he suffered last November. The Bills activated Miller the first week in October, right in time to play in London against the Jaguars. But it’s taken him awhile to get his pass rushing moves up to par. Miller has zero sacks in his five games.

Miller also had a slip up, Sunday, on national TV against the Bengals. With the game on the line, he missed a tackle on Cincy running back Joe Mixon, who converted the third down. The play basically sealed the win.

“I’m still working, still trying to get back,” Von Miller told reporters. “This was the best that I’ve felt. I let the coaches know during the game that ‘I feel real good today,’ so physically I’m right where I want to be.”