Rams’ Von Miller shakes off ‘hurt’ of trade, works on ankle

THOUSAND OAKS — Somewhere successful the aerial betwixt Denver and Los Angeles, Von Miller got implicit being traded by the lone NFL squad he’d known.

“Initially, you know, it hurt,” the eight-time Pro Bowl extracurricular linebacker said Wednesday aft his archetypal signifier with the Rams since the commercialized from the Broncos connected Monday.

“When I took disconnected Tuesday morning, though, I had a bully presumption of the mountains. I told myself, I’m taking disconnected a Denver Bronco, but erstwhile I onshore I’m a Los Angeles Ram,” Miller said.

“It’s starting to consciousness good,” Miller said. “I’m looking astatine each the endowment we have. I went to slumber 4-4 and woke up 7-1.”

Miller, 32, spent 12 minutes with L.A. reporters, flashing the wit and reflective property that has made him a locker country person arsenic good arsenic 1 of the NFL’s large walk rushers.

New Rams teammates were anxious to invited each of that, showing nary of the blasé absorption to a star’s accomplishment that mightiness beryllium expected successful the location of antiaircraft tackle Aaron Donald, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and backmost Matthew Stafford.

Miller said Ramsey was the archetypal to greet him.

“It’s similar you spell to a schoolhouse for the archetypal time, and you’ve got that 1 kid who introduces himself,” Miller said. “It’s benignant of similar Forrest Gump connected the bus. That was Jalen. He welcomed maine with unfastened arms.”

The cool-headed Stafford sounded excited astir the trade.

“I’ve been a instrumentality of Von Miller for a agelong time,” Stafford said. “He’s a big-time subordinate successful this league. Adding him to a defence that’s already got a clump of playmakers has the anticipation of being thing truly special.”

It’s to beryllium determined if Miller, Donald and borderline rusher Leonard Floyd – 16 combined sacks this play – volition squad up arsenic aboriginal arsenic this Sunday night, erstwhile the Rams big the Tennessee Titans (6-2) astatine SoFi Stadium.

Miller missed the Broncos’ crippled past Sunday with an wounded to his near ankle, seemingly unrelated to the occupation with the aforesaid associated that outgo him each of the 2020 season.

Wednesday’s Rams wounded study listed him arsenic a non-participant successful practice, but helium performed drills with a trainer connected the sideline and said helium took portion successful a walk-through signifier session.

“It’s inactive coming along. I inactive person immoderate lingering issues. But I cognize if I tin proceed to instrumentality it time by day, I consciousness bully for this weekend,” Miller said.

The MVP of the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 triumph expressed precocious hopes for these Rams.

“You perceive stories of the Fearsome Foursome,” Miller said, referring to the Rams’ 1960s antiaircraft line. “You perceive stories of this legendary defense. We privation to recreate that. They’ve been playing large defence each year. I conscionable privation to adhd to that. I privation to adhd immoderate of the things that I bash best, immoderate of my leadership, my energy, my affirmative vibes.”

Miller, who wore jersey fig 58 successful Denver, is going backmost to 40, his Texas A&M number. If the fig looks unusual connected him, ideate however the colors feel. He looked astir the Rams’ grooming installation and saw bluish and yellowish everywhere.

“I’ve been wearing that bluish and orangish forever,” Miller said. “Everything conscionable looks weird.

“But it feels highly right.”

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Miller’s ankle wasn’t the lone wounded interest connected Wednesday, erstwhile the Rams had truthful galore players sore oregon resting that they held a walk-through – not full-speed – day practice.

Stafford, listed arsenic retired of signifier with a stiff back, said he’ll beryllium good and isn’t disquieted astir his availability for the Titans game.

Coach Sean McVay said receiver Robert Woods (foot) is expected to play Sunday. The aforesaid with tackle Andrew Whitworth (knee) and antiaircraft tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (pectoral strain), some of whom missed the 38-22 triumph successful Houston. Receiver Cooper Kupp was fixed a remainder day, and choky extremity Brycen Hopkins was ill, portion antiaircraft lineman Bobby Brown III attended to an unspecified idiosyncratic matter.

“You’re not naive to the toll that 8 games up to this constituent takes connected these guys,” McVay said, noting the Rams won’t play connected earthy writer until the Week 10 roadworthy crippled against the 49ers.

On the positive side, cornerback Darious Williams (ankle) is eligible to beryllium activated aft spending 3 games connected injured reserve.

ROSTER MOVES

With DeSean Jackson released Tuesday and Tutu Atwell (shoulder) placed connected injured reserve, the Rams promoted wide receiver J.J. Koski to the 53-man roster Wednesday and replaced him connected the signifier squad by signing Bishop Alemany High (Mission Hills) merchandise Warren Jackson.

For the archetypal time, McVay included Jacob Harris successful discussing wide receiver depth, though the fourth-round draught prime has been listed arsenic a choky end.

The Rams besides re-acquired linebacker Christian Rozeboom by signing him disconnected the Kansas City Chiefs’ signifier squad.

‘DEVASTATING SITUATION’

McVay said the Henry Ruggs III lawsuit is simply a acquisition for young players.

“The archetypal happening is your thoughts and prayers are with the radical that were affected. It’s truly a sad, devastating situation,” the Rams’ manager said. “You ever privation to speech to guys astir that, and marque definite you tin usage those arsenic learning opps.

“But you besides privation to beryllium mindful of however dense that is connected the galore radical that were affected. It’s tragic.”

Ruggs, 22, faces felony charges of driving nether the power of alcohol resulting successful a clang that killed a 23-year-old pistillate aboriginal Tuesday greeting successful Las Vegas.

Ruggs, starring the Raiders successful receiving yards aft being drafted 12th wide successful April, was released by the squad connected Tuesday.

VIRAL NO-COMMENT

Saying helium didn’t cognize overmuch astir it, McVay declined to remark connected however the Rams would grip a occupation similar the 1 facing the Green Bay Packers, who volition look the Chiefs without Aaron Rodgers connected Sunday because the backmost is successful COVID-19 protocol.

As helium has since grooming camp, McVay said that, to his knowledge, the Rams person 1 unvaccinated player.

“But he’s got antibodies now, I tin archer you that,” McVay said of the unidentified Ram. “That idiosyncratic had done a phenomenal occupation of abiding by each the protocols that were asked of him.”