Expectations were high for wide receiver Anthony Miller coming into 2019. The kid had gotten off to a strong start to his career as a rookie, scoring seven touchdown passes. All this despite dealing with a nasty injury that saw him repeatedly dislocate his shoulder. An ailment that required surgery in the offseason to fix. That is a big reason why he missed a large chunk of training camp back in July and August, forced to sit on the sidelines watching.
When he did return, it wasn’t quite without restrictions either. According to Mitch Trubisky, the Chicago Bears doctors recommended that Miller protect his repaired shoulder by wearing a harness that would hold it in place. The receiver agreed, thinking he could make due fine with it. When the season began though, he started to realize he’d made an error in judgment. For all the good the harness did protecting the shoulder, it also restricted Miller’s overall movements.
Through the first four games, he managed just four catches for 28 yards. Things finally came to a head against the Oakland Raiders in London where the harness played a role in a crucial drop he had early in the game. Miller had seen enough and took it upon himself to finally break free according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune and others.
“After I had dropped the ball in London, I cut it off because I couldn’t reach all the way,” Miller said. “I cut it off and I ended up playing better after that. So … ”
So is he going to wear it again?
“My harness is gone for the rest of the year,” he said.
Anthony Miller considers himself a free man
Miller got himself off the mat against the Raiders after that, catching four passes for 52 yards including a big 32-yard reception that helped lead to a Bears touchdown in the 3rd quarter. It was the first showing of the player fans had expected to see from the start, which begs the question of why he didn’t rid himself of the harness sooner. Not that anybody is complaining. It sounds like the receiver is now completely without restrictions and ready to really get going.
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The timing couldn’t be better. Chicago is set to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, a team with one of the best secondaries in the league. With Allen Robinson having to face star cornerback Marshon Lattimore, it will fall to Miller to pick up the slack. He could be in line for a big day too as Saints corner P.J. Williams was just suspended by the league. If the offensive line can give Trubisky good protection, the sudden resurgence of Miller will continue.
