The 2023 campaign began with expectations for continued production in the case of Von Miller. The future Hall of Famer’s Bills career got off to a strong with eight sacks in 11 contests during the 2022 campaign, but it was abruptly ended by an ACL tear.

Miller spent last offseason rehabbing, and on multiple occasions he expressed confidence in his knee’s status. The two-time Super Bowl winner had already rebounded from an ACL tear earlier in his career, and managing to do so again would have provided Buffalo with a key contributor along the edge. In the end, though, Miller suited up for 12 contests and had by far the least impactful season of his career. When reflecting on the year, he admitted playing was not the best decision.

“I wanted to be out there and play,” Miller said (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). “If I was 50%, like, nobody was going to stop me from going out there… But the truth, just being honest with you guys, my knee wasn’t at a place where I could go, and I could move, and I could do the things that I wanted to do. I mean, I could play, but that was just about it.”

Miller was held without a sack and recorded only three tackles in 2023, a major step back from his 2022 totals and a highly underwhelming return on investment from the Bills’ perspective. The 35-year-old remains attached to the six-year, $120MM deal he signed in 2022. He did accept a pay cut this spring as part of Buffalo’s financial maneuvering, but delivering better production would be critical for the team’s pass rush (and allow him to recoup money via incentives).

Repeating the positive sentiment he shared earlier this offseason, Miller added that he is now “feeling normal,” an encouraging sign for his health outlook. The former Bronco and Ram’s best 2023 showings came at the end of the regular season and Buffalo’s two playoff games, and remaining healthy through training camp could set him up for a rotational role to kick off the coming campaign. The Bills still have projected starters Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa in place at the defensive end spot; the former had his 2025 fifth-year option picked up, while the latter was retained on a two-year deal in March.

Buffalo did lose Leonard Floyd in free agency, though, and Miller returning to his previous form could help offset that departure. Another All-Pro season on Miller’s part should not be expected, of course, but he is at least optimistic 2024 will include a notable step forward in terms of effectiveness compared to last year.

The 2023 campaign did not go according to plan for Von Miller. The future Hall of Famer’s second Bills campaign included a lengthy recovery from an ACL tear and finished without a sack being recorded.

A key factor in Miller’s ability to rebound in 2024 will of course be the status of his knee. A return to health could pave the way for a bounce-back season, although at age 35 expectations will be lowered with respect to pass rush production. In any event, positive signs have been seen this spring.

“I have continued to grind and continued to work on my knee,” Miller said when speaking to the media (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “Everything revolves around my health, the way my knee is feeling So far, I’ve been feeling great. I’ve been practicing without a knee brace. That’s something that I just could not do last year.”

The longtime Broncos Pro Bowler made just three tackles last season while playing a rotational role. That stands in stark contrast to the eight sacks and 27 QB pressures he registered the year before, figures which potentially offered a preview of his time in Buffalo. Four years remain on Miller’s pact, which was restructured in March as part of the team’s multitude of cost-shedding moves ahead of free agency. As a result, he is due $8.86MM in 2024 base compensation with the potential to earn more via incentives.

No guaranteed salary exists on Miller’s contract beyond this season, and a post-June 1 release would generate notable cap savings as early as 2025. The extent to which he rebounds during the coming campaign will therefore be worth watching closely. Buffalo lost Leonard Floyd in free agency, but the team still has Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa along with veteran addition Dawuane Smoot and fifth-round rookie Javon Solomon on the edge. Miller will compete for snaps as part of that contingent.

“During the season, once we start getting in the mix, in games and stuff, I think I should be good to go,” the latter added. “I think my last three games of the [2023] season, Miami, Pittsburgh and K.C., were my best games of the year. I hate that it waited all the way to that point, but that’s just what it took, and I’ve just been trying to use that to springboard into this season.”

Given their tight cap situation, the Bills will face a number of challenges this offseason with respect to roster moves. In the case of edge rusher Von Miller, a release or trade would carry signficant financial implications. Neither route appears to be in the team’s plans, however.

When speaking to the media about the Bills’ outlook, head coach Sean McDermott made repeated references, via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, to next season as it pertained to Miller remaining in Buffalo (subscription required). In spite of a forgettable 2023 campaign, therefore, the former Super Bowl MVP is likely on track for a third Bills campaign. Four years remain on Miller’s contract, and guarantees exist for 2024.

Miller is owed $17.5MM in each of the next two seasons, and his pact calls for $6.44MM in guaranteed compensation for the ’24 campaign. For that reason, designating him a post-June 1 cut would be necessary to avoid negative cap savings. A trade before that date would create a dead cap charge of nearly $22MM and only $2MM in savings. No guaranteed money is in place beyond 2024, though, so next season will be imperative as Miller looks to rebound from a disappointing second campaign in Buffalo.

The 34-year-old posted zero sacks and only three QB hits in 12 games in 2023, finding himself a healthy scratch at one point late in the regular season. He was also held without a sack in the Bills’ two playoff games, a far cry from his production in 2022. Of course, Miller began the campaign late as he recovered from an ACL tear, and he will aim to be in a better health situation in time for Week 1 of the 2024 season.

Wideout Stefon Diggs has also been the subject of recent speculation, though the Bills have made it clear he remains a central part of their plans moving forward. In Miller’s case, McDermott’s stance points to at least short-term continuity. Gregory Rousseau still has term on his rookie contract, but fellow edge rushers A.J. Epenesa, Leonard Floyd and Shaq Lawson are each pending free agents.

As such, Buffalo could see considerable turnover at the position in the near future, and heavy losses could see Miller receive a higher workload than the 32% snap share he saw in 2023. At a minimum, he should be expected to log a rotational role in a bounce-back bid with the Bills.

Speaking with media for the first time since he was arrested on a domestic violence charge, Von Miller called the allegations against him “100% false.” The Bills pass rusher said the incident was overblown.

Miller, 34, turned himself into police and was charged with a third-degree felony on Nov. 30. After Miller was charged with assaulting a pregnant person, the NFL did not place the Bills pass rusher on the commissioner’s exempt list. He has remained active since the incident involving his girlfriend.

“Obviously there are things that I can’t talk about, but everything that was out is completely wrong and blown out of proportion on me and my girlfriend,” Miller said, via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia. “We have problems just like any other couple does, but it’s never been any of the things that was alleged against me. So hopefully over time, you know, all of this stuff will get cleared up. … The people who know me and the people who’ve been around me know my character. They know who I am.”

A police report indicates Miller and his girlfriend engaged in an argument last month. The dispute escalated to the point Miller is alleged to have told his girlfriend to leave their apartment and, as the woman attempted to, broke her laptop before shoving her. He is later alleged to have put his hands on her neck, applying pressure but not restricting the woman’s ability to breathe, and pulled out a chunk of her hair. Miller’s girlfriend told police she is six weeks pregnant. Treated at the scene for minor abrasions on her left hand and bruising on her neck, the woman was not hospitalized.

Miller’s girlfriend said shortly after the veteran defender’s arrest that she was not assaulted, indicating the incident was “blown way out of context.” The woman, who is the mother of Miller’s two children, called the developments surrounding the couple “outrageous,” but the 13th-year veteran still faces the charge. When asked what about the charge was wrong, Miller said (via Buscaglia) “all of it is incorrect.”

“It is 100% false,” Miller said of the assault allegation. “It’s overblown. You know, I’ve got the right people on the job and you just you just keep pushing. I know who I am. I know my character. I know the type of person that I am. I know me and my my girlfriend’s relationship. So you just got to keep pushing, man. Life just lifes. You got to smile and have fun through it all. Especially when, you know, all the stuff is untrue.”

Even if the charge is dropped, Miller could still face an NFL suspension. A ban could affect his future with the Bills. A suspension under the personal conduct policy would remove Miller’s $10.7MM in 2024 guarantees from the equation. Around $22MM in prorated bonus money — on the six-year, $120MM deal the ex-Broncos and Rams superstar signed in 2022 — would move onto the Bills’ 2024 cap sheet if they cut Miller next year following a suspension. A post-June 1 designation would spread that total over two years. If Miller is not suspended, the Bills would face a $32MM dead-money charge if they released him in 2024.

Since coming back from the second ACL tear of his career, Miller has struggled. He does not have a sack in 11 games, working as a backup, and has made just three tackles this season. That represents a steep decline from his 2022 form; Miller notched eight sacks before going down with the knee injury on Thanksgiving Day last year.

Von Miller faces a third-degree felony charge of assaulting a pregnant person following an incident in Dallas last week. With Buffalo coming off their bye week, Bills general manager Brandon Beane told reporters that the linebacker is back with the team and is expected to play on Sunday.

[RELATED: Latest On Bills DE Von Miller]

“Right now, we don’t expect anything based on our conversations,” Beane said of a potential punishment (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia). “Anytime it’s an ongoing investigation if something was uncovered, the commissioner does have that at any point if he feels there was something that, ‘Hey, this doesn’t look good,’ or something like that. If at any point that, they could. But, with our knowledge of what we have today, we don’t expect that.”

An arrest warrant was issued for Miller last week after his pregnant girlfriend accused him of shoving and choking her. Miller turned himself in to police and was subsequently released on $5K bond, and his girlfriend later described the charges as a “huge misunderstanding.” Beane told reporters that the organization is letting the legal situation play out and will follow the league’s lead concerning punishment. Even if the charges are dropped, Miller could still face punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Further, Miller is expected to avoid placement on the Commissioner Exempt list, which would have sidelined him indefinitely. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports pointed out (and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio passed along), the NFL wouldn’t put Miller on paid leave unless he was formally charged with a crime.

After sitting out Wednesday’s practice for a standard veteran off day, Miller was back on the practice field today. Per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg, the player declined comment when he was approached by reporters at his locker.

Von Miller faces a third-degree felony charge of assaulting a pregnant person. The alleged incident occurred at Miller and his girlfriend’s Dallas-area home Wednesday. The Bills defensive end posted bail Thursday night.

A police report indicates Miller and his girlfriend engaged in an argument Wednesday. The dispute escalated to the point Miller is alleged to have told his girlfriend to leave their apartment and, as the woman attempted to, the 34-year-old pass rusher broke her laptop and shoved her. He is later alleged to have put his hands on her neck, applying pressure but not restricting the woman’s ability to breathe, and pulled out a chunk of her hair. Miller’s girlfriend told police she is six weeks pregnant. An arrest warrant went out for Miller, who had left the residence.

Treated at the scene for minor abrasions on her left hand and bruising on her neck, the woman was not hospitalized. The dispute took place after Miller’s girlfriend had said she did not want to travel on her birthday this week, according to WFAA’s Rebecca Lopez and Ryan Osborne. In a 911 call obtained by WFAA, the woman said, “My boyfriend is choking and hitting me. I have bruises all over me. My hair is out.”

Two days after the alleged assault, the woman has since said in a text message (via WFAA), “No one assaulted anyone. This is insane. And sad. We’re fine. Things were blown way out of context. This is actually outrageous!” She described the incident as a “huge misunderstanding” and a “verbal disagreement.”

Miller turned himself into the Glenn Heights Police Department, posting a $5K bond just after 6pm CT on Thursday. Even if this charge ends up being dropped, the future Hall of Fame defender will remain subject to a suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. A ban, which would be Miller’s first under the policy, could have a significant impact on his future in Buffalo.

Miller, who was suspended for a substance-abuse policy violation in 2013, is in the second season of a six-year, $120MM contract. The second of Miller’s two ACL tears has left him — thus far this season, at least — a shell of his pre-injury version. After tallying eight sacks in 11 games last season, Miller does not have any in eight contests this year. After parking Miller on the reserve/PUP list to start the season, the Bills have used the 13th-year veteran exclusively as a backup.

A suspension would give the Bills an easier out in 2024, with $17.1MM of Miller’s ’24 base salary guaranteed for injury and $10.71MM of that amount fully guaranteed. Those guarantees would void in the event of a suspension. If no suspension occurs, the Bills would face a $32.5MM dead-money charge by cutting Miller without a post-June 1 designation; they would be charged $17.1MM in 2024 by using the post-June 1 designation.

The NFL has not placed Miller on the commissioner’s exempt list, which doubles as paid leave. The Bills return from their bye week to play the Chiefs in Week 14.