Losing Von Miller for the season would be a devastating blow for the Denver Broncos. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos' Von Miller likely out for season with ankle tendon injury

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/9/20

It's not going to be easy for the Denver Broncos to replace Von Miller this season, but all signs are pointing toward the team needing to find a solution in his absence.

Miller, who injured his ankle tendon on the last play of Tuesday's practice, likely will be out for the entire 2020 campaign, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Broncos’ OLB Von Miller injured a tendon in his ankle on the last play of practice today, and he is expected to need surgery that is likely to end his season, league source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 9, 2020

The 31-year-old was sent for an MRI shortly after the injury occurred and probably will have to undergo surgery, but he'll first seek a second opinion from sports orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson, whose practice is in Green Bay, Wisc.

Miller has been one of the most consistent, durable players for Denver over the years. He missed just one game in the last six seasons in December of 2019 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Prior to that, he had a streak of 95 games played with a total of 5,251 defensive snaps.

Before 2019, Miller missed the 2013 regular-season finale with a torn ACL and also missed the first six games of that season because of a suspension.

The eight-time Pro Bowler was primed to have a solid 2020 campaign after he said repeatedly that the 2019 season was a disappointment for him. He added some weight during the offseason and maintained his quickness, constantly showing in training camp practices that he was in top form.

When looking at his 2019 numbers, it's not hard to understand why Miller was so disappointed with his performance. Miller recorded eight sacks, which is a career low for him in 15-plus games played per season. He added 33 solo tackles and 20 quarterback hits.

Miller's backups are Malik Reed and Jeremiah Attaochu. Reed, 24, is entering his second season in the NFL after being signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019. In 15 games, he recorded two sacks, 16 solo tackles and five quarterback hits. Attaochu, 27, has been in the league since 2014. A second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers, Attaochu's first season in Denver came last year. He recorded 3.5 sacks, 14 solo tackle and five quarterback hits.

More must-reads: