Von Miller targeting Dec. 13 return following ankle surgery

Von Miller is hopeful that he can play this season.

The linebacker is targeting a return on Dec. 13 when his Denver Broncos face the Carolina Panthers.

"If I'm healthy enough to play, I'm going to play," Miller told The Associated Press' Pat Graham and Arnie Stapleton. "In my mind, I want to make it back and I want to play and I want to show the world some of the stuff I've been working on."

Miller, 31, underwent surgery to repair a dislodged tendon in his left ankle on Sept. 11 after suffering the injury at practice just days before the Broncos' season opener.

"I've been through the ACL surgery (in 2013) and this rehab is nothing like that rehab," he said, according to Ryan O'Halloran of the Denver Post. "I'm trying to stay in the present and stack days and when December comes around, see where I'm at. If I can play, I'm going to play. If it's not healthy and it's ridiculous to play, then I won't play."

Despite initial reports suggesting Miller would be sidelined until 2021, head coach Vic Fangio said in September that it was "too early" to rule out the Super Bowl 50 MVP for the entire season.

Miller, the Broncos' all-time sack leader, racked up eight over 15 games last season. He's led Denver in sacks in eight of his nine NFL campaigns since entering the league as the second overall pick in 2011.

The Broncos are off to a 1-3 start after losing multiple key players to injuries.

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