The one Commanders player that could flip Week 5 on its head

Von Miller isn’t putting up gaudy numbers through four weeks, but dismissing his impact based on pressures alone would be a mistake — especially with the Commanders traveling to Los Angeles to face a reshuffled Chargers offensive line.

With just seven pressures but 1.5 sacks already on the year, Miller has shown that even a limited number of winning reps can tilt a drive. Week 5 sets up to be a moment where a veteran with his pedigree, instincts, and history can flip a game on its head.

What makes the 36-year-old Miller particularly intriguing this week is the matchup opposite Trey Pipkins III. The right tackle has improved over the past two seasons, but he’s still a lineman who can struggle with speed-to-power, bend, and counters from savvy rushers. He hasn't exactly been stout thus far in 2025, allowing 16 pressures in 163 pass protection snaps.

That’s precisely the kind of profile Miller exploits.

Von Miller's role will be integral for the Commanders in Week 5

He’s no longer simply dusting tackles with pure speed around the edge, but the nuance, timing, and ability to read a set are still there. If he gets Pipkins leaning or opens up his hips too early, Miller can convert speed into leverage and flatten the angle to quarterback Justin Herbert.

There’s another layer that matters more than people acknowledge: location and history.

SoFi Stadium is the site of one of the defining stretches of Miller’s career. After being traded to the Los Angeles Rams and helping fuel their 2021 Super Bowl run, he carved out a legacy that still resonates. Being back on that field taps into something that isn’t quantifiable but often shows up on Sundays, especially for elite competitors. Even last year, his return trips to familiar settings sparked some of his most frenetic snaps.

That same spark flashed again in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. His body language, tempo off the snap, and urgency finishing plays looked different — like someone tapping back into an old rivalry from his Denver Broncos days.

His eyes lit up a bit more, the energy shifted, and it was clear the stage brought something out of him. Facing another AFC West opponent this week, in a stadium tied to one of his most significant career highs, creates a similar emotional and competitive runway.

The Chargers’ offensive line is still settling. New pieces, shifting chemistry, and an offense trying to protect Herbert without compromising explosiveness all create stress points. If the Commanders can generate even modest interior disruption, Miller could feast on isolated matchups outside.

His 1.5 sacks so far show he’s cashing in when given the window. Against Pipkins, one or two of those moments are all he needs to wreck a late-game possession.

In all, Washington doesn’t need Miller to have a vintage 10-pressure afternoon. They need one timely sack, one drive-stopping hit, or one forced adjustment in protection that frees up someone else. That'll make a massive difference.

With the Commanders searching for a statement win on the road and their defense needing a spark, Miller is the kind of veteran who can deliver it — even if the stat sheet doesn’t forecast it.