Broncos' Miller recalls 'frightening' battle with COVID-19

Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.

Denver Broncos star Von Miller struggled to breathe while infected with the coronavirus.

"I got asthma, but it was past the asthma attack - like my lungs were constricting," the edge defender told Kent Babb of The Washington Post. "My asthma nebulizer helped, but it still didn't feel like it was supposed to. That was the most frightening part. Just going to sleep knowing that my oxygen level could drop and I could wake up and have to go to the hospital."

In April, Miller became the second known NFL player to test positive for COVID-19. The virus cleared his system by the end of the month.

Since his diagnosis, Miller has been urging the public to practice social distancing to minimize the virus' spread. His message has fallen on more deaf ears than he would like.

"I was going to Chipotle earlier and I saw two people walk out in masks," he recalled. "They took off the masks before they had even got out the store; I was like, 'Hey!' They was all excited, but I was like, 'I had the coronavirus; I saw y'all take your masks off early. Y'all should wear y'all masks all the way to the car.' Their smiles kind of changed."

Miller said he was unable to work out for over two weeks because of the illness and still hasn't returned to his previous physical shape.

"Taking 17 days off and then trying to get back into it, I really feel it," he said. "I still feel my lungs trying to get back in shape. It's just all the wear and tear that it puts on your lungs. I've got asthma on top of that, so to try to run with asthma and then try to run after the coronavirus, that's what I think some of the shortness of breath comes from."

Miller, 31, ranks first in Broncos history with 106 career sacks.