Von Miller wants to play this year and he's "progressing well"

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Vic Fangio’s defense has not been kind to opposing NFL quarterbacks. Through 10 games, the Denver Broncos have the fourth-most quarterback hurries (45), the seventh-most sacks (28) and the fifth-most pressures (99) in the NFL.

And they’ve successfully brought the heat without their highest-paid player on the team, who also happens to be a future Hall-of-Fame pass rusher.

But there’s still hope Von Miller will be back on the field before the 2020 season is over.

“I think he’s progressing well,” Fangio said on Monday about Miller’s recovery. “I think it’s still too early to say if he would be able to play or not.”

Six days before the Broncos’ season opener, Denver’s star pass rusher suffered a dislocated peroneal tendon in practice, which required ankle surgery. Initially, it was believed Miller’s 2020 season was over before it even began.

Typically, the devastating injury has a recovery timeframe of five-to-six months. However, Von Miller isn’t typical. He had his eyes set on the best-case scenario of a three-month recovery.

Since the 6-foot-3, 250-pound pass rusher underwent surgery on Sept. 11, the best-case scenario would put him back on the field for the Broncos’ final four games of the season, beginning in Carolina against the Panthers on Dec. 13.

Although he’s on the injured reserve, Miller can be activated and play whenever he is healthy.

“He has not, obviously, got medical clearance to go out on the field and partake in practice, even in a limited fashion,” Fangio stated on Monday. “So until he gets to that point, it’s a moot point.”

While Von has not received medical clearance, all signs are pointing in the right direction. On Oct. 29, Von took a “surprising” positive step in his recovery as he was out of his boot a week ahead of schedule and was walking around the Broncos’ practice fields without his scooter. Miller’s also made his intentions to play well known in the public and to the organization.

“I know he wants to [play],” Fangio said. “I talked to him about it. We’d love to have him out there, but we’re only going to have him out there when he’s ready fully to participate. Obviously, that’s going to require medical clearance first.”

In his absence, Malik Reed and Bradley Chubb have stepped up at the outside linebacker position, leading the team with 6.5 sacks each. But there’s no doubt the Broncos would “love to have” the eight-time Pro Bowler for the final stretch of the season.