Ventrell Miller made his first career Week 1 start and led the Jacksonville Jaguars with nine tackles in their 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The fourth-year linebacker also recorded a sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble on Cleveland Browns wide receiver K.C. Concepcion.
Miller had started 11 career games before the season opener, including nine in 2024 and two the previous season while filling in for an injured Devin Lloyd. His first-half forced fumble led to a Jacksonville Jaguars touchdown on the following drive.
Ventrell Miller continues creating takeaways
Miller recorded one forced fumble in 2024 and two more the previous season, making the play against Cleveland his fourth forced fumble in the last three seasons. He also played 205 defensive snaps the previous season and was the only NFL player to record at least one interception and one defensive forced fumble while playing fewer than 250 defensive snaps.
“The ball is oxygen,” Miller said. “We always want to take the ball away, so just being cognizant of that. Even when you’re running to the ball, always be looking for the ball and be ready to try to get it out.”
Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Liam Coen said Miller was active and physical and praised his ball disruption. Josh Hines-Allen predicted that Miller would lead the NFL in forced fumbles, which Hines-Allen called punchouts, during the season.
“He played well on defense, for sure,” Coen said Monday. “I thought he was active, played physical with his hands. He has done a phenomenal job, I think even dating back to last year when he got in there, of ball disruption. He had another punchout yesterday.”
“We trust Ventrell,” Hines-Allen said. “I think it was definitely a grind for him knowing the expectations that was set on him, but for him just to play his game, get comfortable in the system, communicate, run fast, be physical, which he already is and once he starts to understand the scheme of everything and lining up and just knowing where the ball was going to be, we knew what type of play we were going to get from him. To see him make physical tackles, tackle after tackle, being in coverage, making plays on the ball, that’s what he does.”
Young Jacksonville Jaguars players contribute
Rookie wide receiver Josh Cameron also made an early impact for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The sixth-round selection from Baylor caught the first touchdown of his career on a 4-yard pass from quarterback Trevor Lawrence at the end of the first quarter.
Jakobi Meyers praised Cameron’s consistency throughout camp and said the rookie continued making plays when he got on the field. Coen also highlighted the Week 1 performances of safety Caleb Ransaw, tight end Nate Boerkircher and linebacker Branson Combs.
“I think they handled the moment the right way,” Coen said of the rookies and young players. “I don’t think it was too big for them.”
The Jacksonville Jaguars are 1-0 and are scheduled to play the Denver Broncos, who are 0-1, at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday. Miller said he remains focused on correcting mistakes, improving and helping his team win.
“I can always come out and correct more things,” Miller said. “Proving the doubters wrong for me personally. You know, they say, can we still be the same? But like I said, continue to show up and continue to get better and make plays and help my team.”
“I’m always confident in myself, knowing what I could do,” Miller said. “Just having a chance to go showcase it, help my team win, do my job, help my team win, feels good.”
Source: Original report