Von Miller out with knee injury
— -- HOUSTON -- Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller will undergo tests Monday on his left knee to determine the extent of the injury he suffered in Sunday's win over the Houston Texans and to gauge the star pass-rusher's availability for Denver's postseason run.
The evaluation on Miller will include an MRI on his knee.
"They'll have tests, that's in the medical people's hands right now," Broncos coach John Fox said following Sunday's 37-13 victory. "Anything, until we get all the tests, will be purely speculation. We'll just wait until we hear something definitive."
Miller left the game midway through the first quarter after his leg buckled as he was fighting to get off a block on a 3-yard completion from Matt Schaub to Keshawn Martin. Both Miller and defensive end Shaun Phillips were down after the play, but Phillips got up and walked off the field as Miller was helped to the sideline.
Team officials were still hoping for the best as they prepared for the return trip to Denver, but some with the team fear Miller might have at least some ACL damage and were not optimistic about what the MRI will confirm for the team's medical staff.
"He looked OK, so hopefully we get good news and he gets good news," Broncos defensive tackle Sylvester Williams said.
"We hope for the best, hopefully we get back to Denver and it's something where he needs a little time off and can come back," safety Mike Adams said.
Miller, who missed the first six games of the season because of a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, had one tackle in the game before the injury. Miller has 33 tackles this season and is tied for second on the team with five sacks.
Nate Irving played in Miller's strong-side linebacker spot the rest of the way in the Broncos' base defense. In some of their pass-rush packages, the Broncos played defensive end Robert Ayers opposite of Phillips.
"People get sick of hearing me say it, but it's next man up literally," Fox said. "Nate Irving stepped in and did a very good job. Our team has been that way the whole season -- doesn't matter what phase of the game it is, even me taking a leave of absence for four weeks."