Von Miller has stern message for Cleveland Browns offensive tackles

The Cleveland Browns have had a lot of injuries at offensive tackle and Von Miller of the Denver Broncos is ready to get after whoever they start Thursday

Last weekend, the Cleveland Browns had to start two reserves at offensive tackle with Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin out. In their place was Blake Hance on the left side and rookie James Hudson on the right.

It went about as well as expected.

Now with a game on Thursday night against the Denver Broncos, there’s not much time at all for those players to get healthy and Denver pass-rusher Von Miller has taken notice.

According to Broncos reporter Aric DiLalla, Miller said he doesn’t know who he will face but knows what’s going to happen.

"“I will play well in this game. … I’m going to have a great game. … I don’t know who the tackle I’m going against is, but I’m going to kill him.” — Miller"

Miller missed the entire 2020 season due to an injury but has been playing well in 2021 since returning. He has 17 tackles and 4.5 sacks as the 32-year-old has continued to get after the quarterback even when some thought he might fall off with age — and after a pretty rough ankle injury.

For the Browns, they have done a good job in the past of turning such trash talk into motivation. There was the infamous “nameless grey faces” comment as well as the grammatically painful the “Browns is the Browns” from the Pittsburgh Steelers last season that Cleveland brought back up after beating them in back-to-back weeks including a Wild Card win.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has especially been big on taking people’s words and turning them into motivation. A two-time collegiate walk-on who ended up winning a Heisman, Mayfield thrives on bulletin-board material, and Miller just gave him a good one here.

Of course, we can’t just say the Browns will respond by shutting Miller down because the truth is, their O-line has been an issue this season. Mayfield has been sacked 18 times in the first six games including five last week.

For some context as to how bad that is, he was sacked 26 times in 16 games last season.

So while he would surely love to make Miller eat his words, it’s the offensive linemen who will need to dig deep and use this comment as motivation. If they do, it would go a long way toward ending Cleveland’s two-game losing streak.