One day after re-signing with the team, Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller has been placed on the season-ending physically unable to perform list. Miller is still recovering from the injury that kept him out for most of the 2017 season. He played both quarterback and tight end in college while at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Miller was drafted in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Zach Miller Signs With The Bears, Placed on Season-Ending PUP List
Miller’s Numbers
Through his career (he has seen action in six seasons), Miller has 146 receptions on 205 targets for 1,631 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2017 he played in eight games (started six) and posted 20 catches on 35 targets for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Miller hasn’t lit up the stat sheet throughout his career, but that has been mainly due to injuries. When healthy he is a reliable receiver and his 6’4, 233-pound frame allows him to be a good red zone target. Miller’s issue has been he hasn’t been able to stay on the field due to constantly being injured.
Career/Injury History
After playing in 14, 15 and four games for the Jags in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, Miller was placed on injured reserve on September 1st, 201, and subsequently waived on October 16th. On January 3rd, 2013, Miller signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but was released during the preseason. Later that year, on December 30th, 2013, Miller was signed by the Chicago Bears to a reserve/futures contract.
On August 15, 2014, Miller was once again placed on injured reserve because of a foot injury he sustained in the preseason. In late February of the following year, Miller signed a one-year extension, then inked a two-year, $5.5 million contract extension with the Bears in March of 2016. But in Week 11 he suffered a broken foot and he was placed on injured reserve on November 23rd.
On October 29th, 2017, Miller sustained yet another injury when he dislocated his left knee and tore his popliteal artery (supplies blood to the lower leg), which is a career-threatening injury. Miller has undergone a total of nine surgeries (including an emergency surgery to save his leg) on that knee and was placed on injured reserve on November 7th, 2017.
It was extremely unclear that Miller would ever play football again so the fact that he signed a new deal is remarkable. If his knee does in fact hold and he can stay healthy he could prove to be a valuable piece in the offense.
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