Between the vigor in which Zach Miller has attacked his return to health after a gruesome knee injury that ended his 2017 season and how he has been a positive force in the Bears’ locker room and community, there wasn’t anyone who was more deserving of the 2018 Ed Block Courage Award.
And even though Miller sat out the entire 2018 season, he isn’t ready to give up playing in the NFL again: “It’s something we’re exhausting every option we can,” Miller said, via NBC Sports Chicago’s JJ Stankevitz. “I know it’s getting close. I can’t hold it hostage forever. And I don’t plan to, but there are some things I need to try and do physically and see if it’s possible.”
Miller said he has been communicating with the team and has indicated he wants to give it some time to allow for an opportunity to make one last push at pro football. And yet, Miller seems to know that time is ticking when he says he “can’t hold it hostage forever.” Father Time is undefeated and Miller has dealt with a variety of complex injuries over the years, with the worst being the one that resulted in eight surgeries in 2017 on a play which should have been ruled a confirmed touchdown catch in a loss against the Saints.
The injury Miller suffered in New Orleans very well might be a career-ending one, but tip your cap to a player for treating it as something he can come back from and resume a playing career in the NFL. That type of mindset has gotten him this far, so I’m rooting for him to push it as far as he can. I’m sure I’m not the only Bears fan rooting for it.