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The Bills' logistics of going to London, Von Miller on rejoining 'complete unit'

Oct 04, 2023 at 04:53 PM

The Bills took the practice field Wednesday in preparation of their Week 5 match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although it is listed as a home game, the AFC contest will be played nearly 3,500 miles away from Highmark Stadium.

Buffalo will be making their return to London for the first time since 2015, when they faced the Jaguars in Wembley Stadium. This time, the Bills will take the field at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which was used as the primary inspiration in the design of Buffalo’s new stadium set to open in time for the 2026 NFL season.

With an updated injury report and media time with head coach Sean McDermott, quarterback Josh Allen and edge rusher Von Miller here are today's practice notes.

Miller takes the practice field

Beyond the Bills getting ready for their big trip, the Bills defensive front welcomed Von Miller back to practice Wednesday as the three-time All-Pro returns from an ACL tear.

For the first time since November 2022, Von Miller suited up for practice Wednesday afternoon.

"It feels like I've been away from them for so long and I see them each and every day," Miller said. "But it feels like I've been separated from those guys for so long and it feels good to be back again. … To be able to put my pads on and be out there with my guys, to be out there with my teammates and dancing around and joking around after we get done with a set of plays and then locking back up and focusing on the task at hand."

Miller said that he did not feel any limitations while practicing Wednesday and that he was unsure whether or not he would play in Sunday's game.

Miller, who tore his ACL Thanksgiving Day last season, will return to a defensive line that has excelled in his absence. They have pressured quarterbacks on 45.7% of plays and forced -0.46 expected points added on pass plays this season, both good for second in the NFL (per TruMedia).

"It's a complete unit, from [DaQuan Jones] on the inside to AJ Epenesa to Greg Rousseau and Shaq [Lawson] on the outside. Ed Oliver, this looks like it's going to be one of his best years," Miller said. "We just have a complete unit."

Miller's return will bolster a defensive line that is already among the best in football. Miller, a future Hall of Famer, has 123.5 career sacks — making him the NFL's active leader in career sacks.

"I know that he's intent on playing just good team football," said head coach Sean McDermott. "It's a welcome addition to the group and having him back. It's been a journey for him and I don't think I've ever seen a guy with such a positive mindset, mental toughness, just really goal-oriented on getting back and getting healthy and getting out there on the field."

During Miller's time away from the field, he has remained active in team meetings and in helping his teammates prepare for their first four games.

"He's excited every day he's around here," McDermott said. "He's a positive guy and brings a lot to our building, not just on the field but off the field, in terms of his mindset and how he goes about his business."

Quarterback Josh Allen knows the impact of adding Miller back to an already-loaded defensive line.

"I mean, it's Von Miller. First-ballot Hall of Famer, the juice that he brings for the guys, the trust that everybody has in him, he's the ultimate closer," Allen said. "So, whenever he's ready to go, we're gonna welcome him with open arms. … It's a very, very good unit adding a very, very good player – one of the greatest to play."

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Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, October 01, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.

Bill Wippert/Buffalo Bills

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Damar Hamlin (3). Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, October 01, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.

Bill Wippert/Buffalo Bills

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Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, October 01, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.

Bill Wippert/Buffalo Bills

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Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, October 01, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.

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Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, October 01, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.

Bill Wippert/Buffalo Bills

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Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, Regular Season, October 01, 2023 at Highmark Stadium.

Ben Ludeman/Buffalo Bills

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The logistics of going to London

The Bills are flying to London overnight on Thursday with an arrival scheduled for Friday morning. They will hold their final practice of the week on Friday afternoon and then meet with the media after practice to preview Sunday's matchup.

The team's decision to fly out late in the week as opposed to earlier has been heavily studied by the Bills Performance Science Department, led by director of sports performance Joe Collins.

"(Joe's) staff and our training staff, they've done a ton of research," Sean McDermott said. "Joe is actually from there. So done a ton of research over the years and now it's ramped up obviously this offseason and making sure we're going about it the right way here."

Flying overnight and then practicing in London Friday afternoon means that the players and staff will stay awake through the day on and then get a full rest Friday night before a Saturday walk-thru.

"The research that is being used as our vision is we're going to try and do that," McDermott detailed. "Once we get there, try and stay up through the day and try and get acclimated to a little bit of it as much as you can."

"There's been a number of people working behind the scenes on this since we got word that this was going to happen. And it's a great opportunity."

Sunday will be the first time the Bills have played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in 2019 and has a capacity of 62,850 fans. Since opening, there have been five NFL games that have been played at the stadium, including last year's Giants-Packers matchup.

When the Bills arrive at the stadium this weekend, McDermott and the coaching staff will look for specific markers to

"We try to scout out just directional, you know, flow of the wind," McDermott said. "Not to get too specific, but where the play clocks are located, because that's obviously important as it relates to the signal callers, and just overall playing surface, just to name a few."

AFC Player(s) of the Week

Josh Allen was named the AFC Player of the Week for his near-perfect performance against the Miami Dolphins Sunday. The quarterback accounted for five touchdowns and over 320 passing yards, but he thinks the award should have gone to a different Buffalo Bill.

"It's Stefon Diggs, man, and he should have gotten Player of the Week this week, that's all I'll say," Allen said.

Diggs finished with six catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. One came from a short pass from Allen which Diggs caught before shaking two defenders and sprinting 55 yards to the end zone.

Diggs is tied with Miami's Tyreek Hill for the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL with four.

Injury Updates

Defensive end Greg Rousseau missed practice with a foot injury that he picked up during Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins. McDermott said he was considered day-to-day.

Leonard Floyd, Matt Milano and Micah Hyde took veteran rest days during Wednesday's practice and Christian Benford (shoulder) and Jordan Poyer (knee) were limited.

Wednesday's full injury report can be found here