Zach Miller Injury: Updates on Bears TE’s Recovery from Foot Surgery
Published by Mike Chiari on November 20, 2016
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller will undergo surgery to repair a broken right foot he suffered in Week 11 against the New York Giants. He was placed on injured reserve, and an official timeline for his recovery has yet to be announced.
Continue for updates.
Miller Placed on IR
Wednesday, Nov. 23
The Bears announced Miller won’t return this season.
Miller Reportedly Won’t Return After Surgery
Monday, Nov. 21
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, citing a source, reported that Miller will undergo surgery and will not play again this season.
Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday that Miller was wearing a walking boot after missing the remainder of the game against the Giants.
Bears Unlikely to Duplicate Miller’s Production
Following the offseason trade of Martellus Bennett to the New England Patriots, Miller became Chicago’s unquestioned starting tight end, and he entered Week 11 with 44 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns.
After going three years without appearing in a regular-season game largely because of injuries, Miller broke out in 2015 by setting career highs with 34 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns.
With Bennett and wide receivers Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and Kevin White (shin) all dealing with ailments at various points in the season, Miller developed into one of quarterback Jay Cutler‘s favorite targets.
That was enough to land the former sixth-round pick out of Nebraska-Omaha the starting job entering 2016. Without him, Chicago will have to turn to the likes of Logan Paulsen and Ben Braunecker as contingency options.
Since none of the Bears’ backups are likely to replace the 32-year-old Miller’s production, it stands to reason that the tight end position could largely be phased out of the passing game. Jeffery (suspension) and White (injury) are unavailable as well, so the burden instead falls on receivers Eddie Royal and Cameron Meredith as well as running backs Jeremy Langford and Jordan Howard.
Miller’s progress made Bennett expendable from Chicago’s perspective. But there is little else to speak of in terms of tight ends on the roster, and the Bears will quickly find that out with Miller out of the lineup.
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