Roy

Miller III

Miller was also arrested in 2017 for domestic battery. The 31-year-old has been out of the league since 2017.

Long a favorite of the old Bucs staff, Miller is no longer on scholarship in Tampa Bay. Miller has not been an effective interior player either in terms of pass rush or run stoppage entering his fourth NFL season. Also due $1.37 million, Miller may struggle to make the roster without an injury ahead of him.

In terms of run defense, it’s safe to say this won’t end well for a team that ranked 32nd against the run last year. The Bucs might have had a prayer of avoiding the league’s run-defense basement had Brian Price turned himself around, but they didn’t bother seeing it through, shipping him to Chicago for a late-round pick. Tampa will be a juicy matchup for fantasy running backs again in 2012.

Coach Greg Schiano described it as a “muscle spasm” that caused Miller to miss Thursday’s practice, although he returned on a limited basis Friday. Miller has been a key early-down stuffer for Tampa Bay’s surprisingly stout run defense. His Week 6 absence would improve Jamaal Charles’ matchup.

Miller was still being held back in this week’s minicamp, but Caldwell says the 310-pounder would suit up if he needed to play in a game this weekend. He’ll be part of the rotation on the interior of Jags’ defensive line.

Miller has been out the entire offseason with the issue, and he’s been “slowly bumping up everything, from conditioning to lifting weights.” The soon-to-be 26-year-old said he dealt with the pain last season while with the Bucs. He’ll probably be limited for the rest of OTAs, but Miller should be fine for camp.

Miller was a 14-game starter for the Bucs’ No. 1 run defense last season, but graded out poorly in Pro Football Focus’ ratings. The 2009 third-round pick came off the bench in 2011 after starting all 16 games in 2010. Miller is a no-nonsense player, but comes off the field in passing situations. Second-year coach Greg Schiano could be looking for “his guy” at nose tackle this offseason.

The Bucs won’t confirm that Miller was concussed, but he is being evaluated according to the NFL’s guidelines for head injuries. Miller is a run-stuffing specialist on a defense allowing a league-best 82.3 rushing yards per game. His absence Sunday would be welcome news for Bryce Brown’s fantasy owners.

Miller missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, but his return on Friday suggests he’s at least passed most of the NFL’s protocol concussion testing. Beat writer Stephen Holder expects Miller to play against Philadelphia, although Bucs coach Greg Schiano stated Friday, “We’re going to be cautious.”

The Bucs will be forced to roll with some combination of Gary Gibson and Corey Irvin to fill Miller’s sizable shoes. It’s excellent news for Bryce Brown as Miller is a key piece of the Bucs’ No. 1 run defense. The rest of the Bucs’ inactives: CB LeQuan Lewis, RB Michael Smith, LB Najee Goode, WR David Douglas, WR David Gilreath and DT Matthew Masifilo.