Kolton Miller suffered a significant injury during the team’s narrow 25-24 defeat against the Chicago Bears on Sunday. In the 4th quarter, with 48 seconds remaining on the clock, an injury that changed his life happened. Bears defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon ran into Miller in pursuit of running back Ashton Jeanty.
After the accident, trainers examined Miller on the field before carting him into the clubhouse for treatment. Early reports indicate that he may have gone down with a high ankle sprain and hairline fracture. This brings up the question of how available he’ll be for their next games.
Miller, an eight-year veteran and the longest-tenured player on the Raiders roster, has been a consistent presence on the offensive line throughout his career. His tenure is marked by durability, as he’s started in 111 of 113 career games, emphasizing his critical impact on the team’s success. This season, he paid for it with a three-year, $66 million contract extension signed on the first day of training camp. This decision further cements his place at the center of the Raiders’ offensive plans moving forward.
Miller’s injury hit at the very moment during a game the offensive line turned in their best performance of the year. They only gave up three pressures, a stunning turnaround after allowing 51 in the first three contests. This dramatic difference underscores Miller’s importance in giving the unit greater stability.
With Miller sidelined, the Raiders will turn to Stone Forsythe as the primary option to step in at left tackle. Forsythe’s flexibility in this important role will be telling. The good news for the team is that their toughest challenges are still ahead—notably missing their starting left tackle.
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