Bills Activate Jordan Phillips Off PUP; Von Miller Next?

It seems the weekend did Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips some favors.

The Buffalo Bills have activated defensive tackle Jordan Phillips off the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP), the team announced Sunday. The 30-year-old now appears on track to play in Week 1 against the New York Jets, though that has been confirmed.

Phillips had shoulder surgery earlier this offseason. Despite getting the operation done after the season, his surgically-repaired torn rotator cuff apparently still needs time to heal. However, Buffalo's announcement on July 25 didn't specify the injuries that are forcing Phillips and linebacker Tyler Matakevich onto PUP.

Bills coach Sean McDermott made it seem like Phillips was a bit further away from a return when speaking to the media Thursday, but it seems the weekend did the veteran defensive lineman some favors.

"That's not a day-to-day conversation, that's more of a every-other-day check in ... give me an update and see where they're at and how they're doing," McDermott said.

However, fans will now be wondering when star pass-rusher Von Miller will be taken off PUP to begin making his return to the field. Of course, Miller is coming off a serious ACL injury and shouldn't be rushed back, but both he and general manager Brandon Beane haven't ruled out a return for Week 1 as a possibility.

"It's definitely a possibility," Beane told NFL Network on Monday. "Not saying he would do it for sure, not saying he wouldn't, we're not quite there yet, but have not ruled out that he could play Week 1 if he gets cleared by doctors."

The always-vocal Miller, who said on social media recently that he's close, has made his thoughts known on the situation.

"The most important thing for me is just to be available when my team really needs me," Miller said at OTAs in May. "If that's Week 1, then I'll be happy for that. If that's Week 6, I'll be happy for that. But I guarantee it won't be any later than that. Whatever it takes for me to get to that point, that's what I'll do."

It could be only a matter of time until Miller is back on the practice field.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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