ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Upon his return to practice on Wednesday, Von Miller expressed he was not keen on revisiting the circumstances surrounding his recent absence, which stemmed from a four-game suspension imposed by the NFL for breaching its personal conduct policy.

Instead, he opted to focus on the future, stating he bore no resentment towards the league, and emphasizing his contentment with moving past the issue. “I’m in a great spot. I’m just happy all of that stuff is behind me,” Miller said. He joined the Buffalo Bills, who currently lead the AFC East, as they gear up for a crucial game against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday. “I really don’t even have to touch on any of that stuff anymore,” he added.

The 35-year-old linebacker referred back to an incident from 11 months ago when he surrendered himself to police in a Dallas suburb following accusations of assault towards his pregnant girlfriend, who is also the mother of two of his children. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Miller has consistently denied them, labeling them as false and exaggerated. Although no charges were filed, the NFL proceeded to discipline Miller following its investigation, a decision linked to the complaint made against him, according to a source close to the situation.

Miller shared that the time off during his suspension has left him feeling rejuvenated. He spent the initial two weeks with family in Texas before returning to the Bills’ training facility where he was permitted to work out individually and attend meetings. He is excited to resume his role on the team, where he had performed impressively before his absence, recording three sacks in the first four games of the season. This brought his active total to 126.5, a positive rebound after a disappointing previous year without any sacks in 14 games as he recovered from knee surgery.

“It was just being able to prove it to myself,” Miller said, reflecting on his journey back. “To come back and really start this thing over again, I have huge belief in my game and what I can do and what I can contribute to this team,” he continued, expressing a focus on his objectives without dwelling on negativity. “There’s really nothing negative on my side. I have all opportunities in the world to go out and achieve all my goals.”

Buffalo’s defense has shown resilience during Miller’s absence, recently boasting their best defensive performance in several metrics after a 31-10 victory against Seattle. The Bills (6-2) set season lows in total yards allowed (233) and rushing yards (32) while restricting Seattle’s conversions on third downs to just one out of seven.

However, it is worth noting that the team’s sack production dwindled in Miller’s absence, with just eight sacks accrued over the past four games compared to 12 in the preceding four. Cornering back Greg Rousseau acknowledged the excitement surrounding Miller’s return, stating, “It’s getting a Hall of Famer back. There’s nothing better than that. So we’re all excited.”

Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich expressed confidence that Miller will seamlessly reintegrate into his role, primarily in passing situations. “I don’t think we’ll skip a beat,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of having effective pass rushers on the field.

Another advantage for Miller was the opportunity to further rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee while also tending to any physical discomfort experienced during the initial weeks of the season. “It’s just like I’m starting the season all over again and I’m ready to roll,” he stated.

When asked about receiving news of his suspension after a particularly challenging 35-10 loss to Baltimore, which limited him to just nine snaps, Miller reiterated his desire to focus on the future. “I’m just grateful to be here and appreciative to be here, the Buffalo Bills, and coming back to a really good team,” he said. “All I have to do is just do my part and nothing more, nothing less. And all the other stuff is behind me. I can just focus on football and playing the best football I could possibly play.”

In practice notes, newly acquired wide receiver Amari Cooper was limited due to a wrist injury, along with starting linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle/pectoral) and wide receiver Curtis Samuel (pectoral), who also returned in a limited capacity after missing previous games.