Anthony Miller - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Place TE Eric Ebron On IR

November 27th, 2021 at 3:17pm CST by Ely Allen

Following a knee injury Eric Ebron sustained in last week’s loss to the Chargers, the Steelers placed the veteran tight end on injured reserve. His time in Pittsburgh might be over as well.

Surgery has emerged as a possibility; that would most likely put an end to the tight end’s season. Ebron had missed two games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury but had returned to normal snap counts in the past two weeks. Ebron’s two-year Pittsburgh contract expires at season’s end.

Rookie Pat Freiermuth has become the primary tight end for Pittsburgh this year, and the second-round pick will only see his usage increase as a result of Ebron’s absence. Ebron’s production has been limited in his second Steelers season; he has pulled in just 12 receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown. The Steelers also have backups Zach Gentry and Kevin Rader — the latter promoted from the practice squad ahead of Week 12 — to help pick up the slack.

In corresponding moves, Pittsburgh promoted guard John Leglue to the active roster and moved guard J.C. Hassenauer to the IR alongside Ebron. The team also bumped up defensive lineman Daniel Archibong and wide receiver Anthony Miller from its practice squad for week’s matchup against the Bengals.

Steelers Sign WR Anthony Miller To P-Squad

October 12th, 2021 at 3:04pm CST by Ben Levine

TUESDAY: The move is now official. The Steelers announced they have added the fourth-year wideout to their practice squad. They will be the former Bears second-rounder’s third team in four months.

MONDAY: Anthony Miller won’t be joining the Jaguars practice squad after all. The veteran receiver “plans to sign” with the Steelers practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).

NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala clarifies (on Twitter) that Miller has yet to sign a contract and will take his physical with Pittsburgh tomorrow. If all goes well, it sounds like the receiver will end up joining the organization.

Earlier today, reports indicated that Miller was set to sign with the Jaguars’ practice squad, and the wideout even tweeted “Duval” over the weekend (per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter). Miller was expected to eventually take the roster spot that was previously held by wideout DJ Chark, who suffered a fractured ankle during Week 4. Now, he’ll eventually be taking the roster spot previously held by JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is likely done for the season with a shoulder injury.

Miller was cut by the Texans late last week, just months after acquiring him from the Bears via trade. He finished his stint in Houston with five catches for 23 yards and one touchdown. The 2018 second-round pick flashed potential at times but generally disappointed during his stint in Chicago. In 2020, he took 49 catches for just 485 yards, and his rookie season (33 catches, 423 yards, seven touchdowns) still stands as his best season.

Jaguars Add Anthony Miller To Practice Squad

October 11th, 2021 at 9:13am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars are set to sign Anthony Miller to their practice squad (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The wide receiver may get a quick promotion to the 53-man roster as well, RapSheet hears.

Miller was cut by the Texans late last week, just months after acquiring him from the Bears via trade. The Texans sent Chicago a 2022 fifth-round pick in the swap, but only used him in two games. He recorded four grabs for 20 yards in his Week 3 debut against the Panthers, but he was a non-factor in Week 4 against the Bills. In his defense, no one on the Texans shined in that 40-0 blowout. All together, he’s got five catches for 23 yards and one touchdown so far this year.

Miller, a 2018 second-round pick, flashed potential at times but fell flat towards the end of his Chicago tenure. In 2020, he took 49 catches for just 485 yards. Some say that shoulder issues held him back — to his credit, he played through the pain for a full 16-game slate.

To date, his rookie year — 33 catches, 423 yards, and seven touchdowns, still stands as his best.

Texans To Waive Anthony Miller

October 6th, 2021 at 10:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Texans are waiving Anthony Miller, according to Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790 (Twitter link). The wide receiver will be available for the league’s other 31 teams on the waiver wire.

The Texans traded for Miller over the summer by sending a 2022 fifth-round pick to the Bears. Since then, he’s seen time in two games for Houston, notching five grabs for 23 yards with a touchdown. The bulk of that came against the Panthers in Week 3; he was hardly a factor as the Texans got drummed 40-0 by the Bills this past week.

Miller, the No. 51 overall pick in 2018, flashed potential at times but fell flat in 2020 — he took 49 catches for just 485 yards, despite playing all 16 games. Some say that shoulder issues limited him in Chicago. Assuming he’s healthy, he should hold appeal for other clubs in need. His seven-TD rookie year wasn’t all that long ago, and he also managed 656 yards as a sophomore.

The Texans, meanwhile, have replaced him with new addition Davion Davis.

Bears Trade Anthony Miller To Texans

July 24th, 2021 at 7:54pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The NFL dead period is officially over, and things are heating up as training camps open. The Bears have agreed to trade receiver Anthony Miller to the Texans, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Here are the details of the deal, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter):

Texans Receive

Anthony Miller
2022 seventh-round pick

Bears Receive

2022 fifth-round pick

A divorce between Miller and Chicago has seemed likely most of this year, and now it’s official. Back in March we heard the team was shopping him, and about a month later it was reported the Bears had held trade talks with a number of teams. The 51st overall pick of the 2018 draft, Miller has flashed lots of potential at times but was a big disappointment in 2020.

The emergence of rookie Darnell Mooney last year made Miller expendable in Chicago. It never really kept him off the field, but Miller dealt with significant shoulder issues in both 2018 and 2019. His rookie season he caught seven touchdowns, and he had 656 yards as a sophomore. But he took a step back last season, only finishing with 49 catches for 485 yards despite playing all 16 games.

From the Texans’ perspective, it makes a lot of sense. They’re almost certainly entering a rebuilding year in 2021, so it can’t hurt to take a look at a young player entering the final season of his rookie deal. Miller has shown some promise in the past, and Houston has a pretty uninspiring receiving group outside of Brandin Cooks after letting Will Fuller walk in free agency.

Anthony Miller On Bears’ Roster Bubble

June 30th, 2021 at 10:07am CST by Sam Robinson

Anthony Miller came up in trade rumors at the start of free agency and popped up again as a movable piece closer to the draft. The Bears ended up holding onto their contract-year slot receiver, but this certainly does not mean Miller will be in Chicago this season.

Miller’s trade-block status was not about obtaining value for a player the Bears do not plan to re-sign, with Adam Jahns of The Athletic noting the former second-round pick is on Chicago’s roster bubble going into training camp (subscription required).

This comes after a minor injury prevented Miller from participating in Chicago’s minicamp earlier this month. Quality minicamp showings elevated veteran signings Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd past Miller in the Bears’ receiver pecking order, Jahns adds, with third- and fourth-year wideouts Riley Ridley and Javon Wims joining Miller on the bubble.

Darnell Mooney usurped Miller as the Bears’ No. 2 wide receiver last season, playing 73% of the team’s offensive snaps (to Miller’s 55%) and outgaining him 631-485 through the air. Neither surpassed 10.5 yards per catch, however, for a still-Allen Robinson-dependent passing attack. Miller has flashed in the past, catching seven touchdown passes while playing through injury as a rookie and posting 656 receiving yards with Mitchell Trubisky at the helm in 2019. The Bears will still need to see more come camp.

Rookie sixth-rounder Dazz Newsome is sidelined with a broken collarbone, and although Goodwin will be on time to camp after failing to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team in the long jump, the speedster has not caught a pass in a game since November 2019. Ridley and Wims’ roster statuses appear more tenuous than Miller’s as well, with Jahns adding the Bears would likely be more willing to carry Miller onto the roster after cutdown day compared to the other two. Miller is set to earn $1.21MM in base salary this season.

Bears Discussing Anthony Miller Trade

April 7th, 2021 at 1:24pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

A potential big trade could be in the works. The Bears have been discussing a deal involving receiver Anthony Miller with a “number of teams,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

We heard a few weeks ago that the team was shopping him, and it sounds like they’re receiving some real interest. Chicago has franchise tagged Allen Robinson, and they had Darnell Mooney breakout last season, making Miller expendable. He’s heading into the final year of his rookie deal, and the team clearly wants to get something for him before he’d presumably walk in free agency.

The 51st overall pick of the 2018 draft, Miller has flashed plenty of big-time potential but has never been able to fully deliver on it. He’s only missed one pro game, but has dealt with serious shoulder issues that have limited him in the past. He caught seven touchdowns as a rookie, then had 52 catches for 652 yards in 2019.

This past season his production dipped, as he had 49 receptions for 485 yards and two touchdowns. The less than 10 yards a reception isn’t great, and his stock likely took a hit. Still he’s only 26, and signed very cheaply for 2021, so it’s not surprising that teams are engaging in discussions. He could be an intriguing flyer with some real upside for a team in need of pass-catching help.

Bears Shopping WR Anthony Miller

March 16th, 2021 at 2:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears do not know who their starting quarterback will be yet, but they might have determined one player will not fit in their 2021 passing attack.

Chicago is discussing Anthony Miller in trades, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The former second-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie deal. Miller is due a $1.21MM base salary next season. He is likely to be dealt, Schefter adds.

Allen Robinson is back, via the franchise tag, and the Bears also have Darnell Mooney coming back as a supporting-caster. The Bears traded up for Mooney last year. While Miller would seemingly fit as an additional auxiliary option and is not a financial hindrance, Bears brass evidently has seen enough to dangle him in trade talks.

Although Miller has battled injuries as a pro, he has only missed one game since the Bears drafted him. The slot option has only eclipsed 500 receiving yards in one of his three seasons, but Chicago’s quarterback situation — largely a Mitchell Trubisky-led setup during Miller’s tenure — did not exactly make for the best environment for a young receiver to develop. It will be interesting to see what the Bears can collect in a deal for the 26-year-old target.

NFC North Notes: Golladay, Bears, Vikings

March 30th, 2020 at 4:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Golden Tate long gone and Marvin Jones entering the final year of his contract, Kenny Golladay figures to be a high priority for the Lions this offseason. Because Golladay was a third-round pick, his fourth season doubles as a contract year. The Lions would like to extend him, and Golladay has expressed interest in a long-term Detroit stay, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. However, no extension talks have commenced yet. Despite Matthew Stafford missing much of the season, Golladay established career-high marks in receiving yardage (1,190) and touchdowns (11). With the floor for No. 1 wide receivers being around $16MM per year now, Golladay will not come cheap after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Here is the latest from the NFC North, shifting first to some more receiving situations:

Anthony Miller dealt with as many as five shoulder dislocations as a rookie in 2018, leading to a 2019 surgery. The Bears wide receiver’s shoulder troubles are not over. He underwent another shoulder operation recently, Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com notes. Miller missed time during the 2019 offseason but did not miss a game last season. That seemingly won’t be an issue this year, with COVID-19 making it highly unlikely any teams will conduct any offseason workouts. The former second-round pick came on down the stretch last season, finishing 2019 with 52 catches for 656 yards.
The retooling Panthers did not pick up Jarius Wright‘s 2020 option, sending the veteran wideout into free agency. Although the Vikings shed Stefon Diggs‘ contract, do not expect Wright to return to Minnesota. The longtime Vikings slot receiver has a slim chance of returning to the team for which he played six seasons, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. The Vikings released Wright in 2018; the 30-year-old wideout played the past two seasons with the Panthers.
The Packers‘ agreement with free agent running back/return man Tyler Ervin is a one-year, $1MM pact, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes. Ervin will collect a $910K base salary. The Packers claimed Ervin off waivers from the Jaguars last year and used him on kick and punt returns.

Extra Points: Montgomery, Bears, Miller, XFL

June 28th, 2019 at 9:38pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Bears drafted running back David Montgomery in the third round back in April, not long after they traded away Jordan Howard. Montgomery has the opportunity to earn a large role this offseason, and so far it sounds like he’s been seizing it. Per Adam Jahns of The Athletic, Montgomery was lighting up the Bears’ OTAs and minicamp. Jahns writes that the Iowa State product “led the rookies, if not the entire team, in highlights made during the offseason program.”

Montgomery was somewhat of a bruising runner at Iowa State, so there was some concern coming out of college about how he’d fare in the passing game. That hasn’t been an issue so far, as Jahns writes that he “excelled in running routes and catching passes,” and that he “looked like a problem for the Bears’ defense.” Per Jahns, Montgomery has both teammates and coaches excited. Tarik Cohen will play his usual role, but he’s never going to be able to handle a full allotment of snaps with his frame. It’s early, but it sounds like Montgomery could take over a featured role as a rookie.

Here’s more from around the league:

The Bears sound pleased with Montgomery’s development, and that isn’t the only good news Chicago fans are getting. In the same piece, Jahns reports that the team expects both tight end Trey Burton and receiver Anthony Miller to be ready for training camp. Burton underwent offseason sports hernia surgery, while Miller had surgery to repair a torn labrum. Both players had missed the team’s recent minicamp and OTAs. Burton’s first year in Chicago was a bit of a disappointment after the big contract that he signed, while Miller showed a lot of flashes in a rookie season that was limited by recurring shoulder issues. Both players could be in for a big 2019 if they can stay healthy.
The XFL has been gearing up for their first season back recently, holding a series of showcases across the country. A bunch of familiar names have popped up, and we have a new one tonight courtesy of Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link). Tommy Streeter, a 2012 sixth-round pick of the Ravens, will participate in the XFL’s Tampa showcase on Saturday, Auman reports. Streeter won Super Bowl XLVII with Baltimore, although he was on injured reserve at the time. He was cut by the Ravens following his rookie season, and the receiver then had stops with the Bills, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Jaguars. Most recently, the Miami product played in the CFL in 2016.
In case you missed it, 2017 Seahawks second-round pick Malik McDowell is facing charges of assault, resisting arrest, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.