THOUSAND OAKS — Somewhere in the air between Denver and Los Angeles, Von Miller got over being traded by the only NFL team he’d known.
“Initially, you know, it hurt,” the eight-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker said Wednesday after his first practice with the Rams since the trade from the Broncos on Monday.
“When I took off Tuesday morning, though, I had a nice view of the mountains. I told myself, I’m taking off a Denver Bronco, but when I land I’m a Los Angeles Ram,” Miller said.
“It’s starting to feel good,” Miller said. “I’m looking at all the talent we have. I went to sleep 4-4 and woke up 7-1.”
Miller, 32, spent 12 minutes with L.A. reporters, flashing the wit and reflective personality that has made him a locker room leader as well as one of the NFL’s great pass rushers.
New Rams teammates were eager to welcome all of that, showing none of the blasé reaction to a star’s arrival that might be expected in the home of defensive tackle Aaron Donald, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Miller said Ramsey was the first to greet him.
“It’s like you go to a school for the first time, and you’ve got that one kid who introduces himself,” Miller said. “It’s kind of like Forrest Gump on the bus. That was Jalen. He welcomed me with open arms.”
The cool-headed Stafford sounded excited about the trade.
“I’ve been a fan of Von Miller for a long time,” Stafford said. “He’s a big-time player in this league. Adding him to a defense that’s already got a bunch of playmakers has the possibility of being something really special.”
It’s to be determined if Miller, Donald and edge rusher Leonard Floyd – 16 combined sacks this season – will team up as early as this Sunday night, when the Rams host the Tennessee Titans (6-2) at SoFi Stadium.
Miller missed the Broncos’ game last Sunday with an injury to his left ankle, apparently unrelated to the problem with the same joint that cost him all of the 2020 season.
Wednesday’s Rams injury report listed him as a non-participant in practice, but he performed drills with a trainer on the sideline and said he took part in a walk-through practice session.
“It’s still coming along. I still have some lingering issues. But I know if I can continue to take it day by day, I feel good for this weekend,” Miller said.
The MVP of the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 victory expressed high hopes for these Rams.
“You hear stories of the Fearsome Foursome,” Miller said, referring to the Rams’ 1960s defensive line. “You hear stories of this legendary defense. We want to recreate that. They’ve been playing great defense all year. I just want to add to that. I want to add some of the things that I do best, some of my leadership, my energy, my positive vibes.”
Miller, who wore jersey number 58 in Denver, is going back to 40, his Texas A&M number. If the number looks strange on him, imagine how the colors feel. He looked around the Rams’ training facility and saw blue and yellow everywhere.
“I’ve been wearing that blue and orange forever,” Miller said. “Everything just looks weird.
“But it feels extremely right.”
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Miller’s ankle wasn’t the only injury concern on Wednesday, when the Rams had so many players sore or resting that they held a walk-through – not full-speed – afternoon practice.
Stafford, listed as out of practice with a stiff back, said he’ll be fine and isn’t worried about his availability for the Titans game.
Coach Sean McVay said receiver Robert Woods (foot) is expected to play Sunday. The same with tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee) and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (pectoral strain), both of whom missed the 38-22 victory in Houston. Receiver Cooper Kupp was given a rest day, and tight end Brycen Hopkins was ill, while defensive lineman Bobby Brown III attended to an unspecified personal matter.
“You’re not naive to the toll that eight games up to this point takes on these guys,” McVay said, noting the Rams won’t play on natural grass until the Week 10 road game against the 49ers.
On the plus side, cornerback Darious Williams (ankle) is eligible to be activated after spending three games on injured reserve.
ROSTER MOVES
With DeSean Jackson released Tuesday and Tutu Atwell (shoulder) placed on injured reserve, the Rams promoted wide receiver J.J. Koski to the 53-man roster Wednesday and replaced him on the practice squad by signing Bishop Alemany High (Mission Hills) product Warren Jackson.
For the first time, McVay included Jacob Harris in discussing wide receiver depth, although the fourth-round draft choice has been listed as a tight end.
The Rams also re-acquired linebacker Christian Rozeboom by signing him off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad.
‘DEVASTATING SITUATION’
McVay said the Henry Ruggs III case is a lesson for young players.
“The first thing is your thoughts and prayers are with the people that were affected. It’s really a sad, devastating situation,” the Rams’ coach said. “You always want to talk to guys about that, and make sure you can use those as learning opps.
“But you also want to be mindful of how heavy that is on the many people that were affected. It’s tragic.”
Ruggs, 22, faces felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in a crash that killed a 23-year-old woman early Tuesday morning in Las Vegas.
Ruggs, leading the Raiders in receiving yards after being drafted 12th overall in April, was released by the team on Tuesday.
VIRAL NO-COMMENT
Saying he didn’t know much about it, McVay declined to comment on how the Rams would handle a problem like the one facing the Green Bay Packers, who will face the Chiefs without Aaron Rodgers on Sunday because the quarterback is in COVID-19 protocol.
As he has since training camp, McVay said that, to his knowledge, the Rams have one unvaccinated player.
“But he’s got antibodies now, I can tell you that,” McVay said of the unidentified Ram. “That person had done a phenomenal job of abiding by all the protocols that were asked of him.”