Chicago Bears Roster, Injury News 2017: Tight End Zach Miller Suffers Dislocated Knee, Touchdown Overturned
Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller's season is likely over after he suffered a gruesome knee injury during Sunday's 20–12 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The ninth-year pro went down with the injury when he landed awkwardly after he caught a touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky midway through the third quarter of the game. While his teammates celebrated, Miller stayed down and he was clearly in a lot of pain.
While the trainers were stabilizing his left leg with an air cast before he was carted off the field, the Bears received another blow. To literally add insult to injury, Miller's touchdown was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass after officials reviewed the play. The Bears had to settle for a field goal instead.
Former National Football League (NFL) vice president of officiating Dean Blandino didn't agree with the call to take away the touchdown, but the officials were convinced that Miller lost control of the ball.
"We ruled that (Miller) was going to the ground as part of the process of that catch," referee Carl Cheffers explained, via WGN Radio. "So when he goes to the ground, he has to survive the ground. He went to the ground, he temporarily lost control of the ball. The ball hit the ground, therefore, it's incomplete," he continued.
After the game, Bears coach John Fox confirmed what many already suspected — Miller has dislocated his left knee.
"I could tell something was wrong because he'd usually get up and be excited and celebrate. But he didn't say anything," Bears tight end Dion Sims said after the game, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "He sat up, but then he laid back down. And he had a stale look on his face," he added.
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Miller had to undergo urgent vascular surgery to repair a torn popliteal artery in his knee.
