DOWN TIME: Redskins QB Robert Griffin III is tended to by teammate Logan Paulsen after injuring his right knee Sunday against the Seahawks. Reports say Griffin, who will undergo tests today, has at least a partially-torn ACL and LCL. (The Washington Times /Landov)
The extent of Robert Griffin III’s knee injury remained unknown last night, but the early indications weren’t encouraging for the Redskins’ franchise quarterback.
Griffin is headed for more tests and an exam today with renowned sports orthopedist Dr. James Andrews after the Washington Post reported initial results showed at least a partial tear of the anterior and lateral collateral ligaments in his right knee.
As well as being uncertain about the extent of the damage, sources also told the newspaper the Redskins aren’t even sure the damage to the knee resulted from Sunday’s 24-14 home playoff loss to the Seahawks or from a previous incident.
Griffin suffered a sprained LCL in the same knee on the same field last month against the Ravens, forcing him to sit out a game, and he also tore the ACL in his right knee in college at Baylor.
A partial tear of the ACL and LCL likely would require only a six-month rehab, meaning Griffin could be back for the start of training camp, but a full tear would mean a much longer absence. The Redskins should know much more after Griffin sees Andrews in Florida today.
But the apparent lack of answers last night isn’t likely to quiet the controversy surrounding Redskins coach Mike Shanahan’s decision to let Griffin stay in Sunday’s game long after it was apparent his knee was a significant issue.
Already wearing a brace because of the previous LCL injury, Griffin fell awkwardly on the knee in the first quarter Sunday, then hobbled until finally exiting late in the fourth quarter after hyperextending it on a fumbled snap.
The fact Griffin suffered two significant knee injuries and a concussion in his rookie year alone — on top of the knee injury in college — also raises serious questions about the length of his NFL career unless he changes his reckless running style or becomes a pocket passer.
Shanahan said after the game Sunday he let Griffin keep playing until he aggravated the knee injury in the fourth quarter because Griffin persuaded Shanahan he wasn’t seriously hurt.
That prompted widespread second-guessing, which led to Griffin coming to his coach’s defense on Twitter yesterday.
“Many may question, criticize & think they have all the right answers. But few have been in the line of fire in battle,” Griffin tweeted.
But one of those people who appeared to be questioning was Griffin’s own teammate, wide receiver Pierre Garcon, who told reporters in Washington yesterday he isn’t sure if Griffin and Shanahan made the right decision by letting him stay in the game.
“It’s a slippery slope, I guess you can say, because you want to help the team,” Garcon said. “But you want to help yourself in the long run and your career. You want to look out for all sides, but it’s hard to really know exactly if you’re doing the right thing. … You’ve just got to make a decision and live with it.”