The Raiders’ first-round pick from a year ago, offensive tackle Kolton Miller, had a subpar rookie campaign. He led the league in sacks allowed at one point and looked overmatched at times, perhaps most notably in Oakland’s loss to Seattle in London, though there were plenty of lowlights to choose from.
But Miller was playing through injury, and it was a serious one: a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee. The Raiders didn’t have much of an option at the time, however. After losing OT Donald Penn for the season, Oakland’s depth chart was anything but deep.
Miller told The Athletic’s Vic Tafur he’ll benefit from the experience in his second season, but as for the knee, it may never be the same.
“I hurt it (Week 4) during the Browns game. I was working through that all season — and learning from it. That made me stronger mentally and should really help my game this year.
“Toward the end of the season, that’s when I felt better, and I got used to it,” Miller said. “I don’t think it’s ever going to be normal — you still feel a little bit of looseness — but it shouldn’t affect my game … A trainer said it’s kind of like working with spaghetti. (Laughs) They have compared people who have had surgery for it and people who haven’t and it ended up healing the same.”
It’s a great sign that Miller is laughing about it, but it would be better for the Raiders — and Miller — if their No. 1 pick from a year ago didn’t already have such a battle wound.
Such changes in the body aren’t so uncommon in the NFL, however. Plus, he showed he’s a top-notch team player. He trusted his coaches and training staff when some would have shut it down. Hopefully, for Miller and the rest of the team, the young tackle can build on his rookie campaign, loose knee and all.
