BUFFALO Bills coach Sean McDermott laid down a challenge to his team after losing Von Miller for four games.
The pass rusher was suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Sean McDermott laid down a challenge to his Buffalo Bills team after Von Miller’s ban[/caption]
Von Miller was suspended for four games by the NFL after violating the league’s personal conduct policy[/caption]
Buffalo will be without Miller until Week 9 after the ban was announced.
McDermott was asked about Miller’s suspension at a press conference this week.
The Bills head coach issued a short, sharp response.
“Somebody needs to step up,” McDermott said.
His words were a message to his locker room rather than addressing Miller’s ban directly.
And they come after a stinging 35-10 hammering by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4.
“Defense had to deal with quite a few situations, injuries, now in this case the suspension with Von,” McDermott added.
“So I expect the same, quite honestly. Somebody is going to step up.”
Buffalo faces the Houston Texans in Week 5 before a prime time showdown against AFC East rivals the New York Jets.
Miller, 35, violated the league’s personal conduct policy.
No further elaboration was provided on how Miller broke the NFL’s rules.
The 35-year-old will not be eligible to return until the Week 9 game against the Miami Dolphins on November 3.
He is a two-time Super Bowl champion and an eight-time Pro Bowler.
Miller was named Super Bowl MVP when the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers in 2016.
The linebacker has been with the Bills since 2022.
Bills games Von Miller will miss
Sunday 6 October – at Houston Texans, 1pm ET
Monday 14 October – at New York Jets, 8.15pm ET
Sunday 20 October – vs Tennessee Titans, 1pm ET
Sunday 27 October – at Seattle Seahawks, 4.05pm ET
Last November, Miller turned himself into police in Dallas after an incident between him and his girlfriend.
Miller allegedly put his hands on the neck of a woman, pulled a chunk of her hair and threw her onto a couch, police said.
A case was dropped when the woman involved withdrew her story.
Miller said at the time, “All of it is incorrect. All of it is untrue.
“Never in any of my relationships that I’ve been in, never in my current relationship with my girlfriend, did any of those things happen.
“It is 100 per cent false. It’s overblown.”
