He requires total reconstructive surgery and could miss the start of the 2013 season. Was it really worth risking Robert Griffin III for as long as the Washington Redskins did in their loss at home to Seattle on Sunday?
Sources close to the team confirmed that both the anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments have been torn, as was originally feared. The ACL injury is a complete tear of the patella graft that was used to repair the previous tear in 2009 when Griffin was at Baylor. Dr James Andrews is expected to use a similar patella graft from Griffin's left knee to repair the new tear.
Team sources said that Griffin's recovery period is estimated at between six and eight months. The reconstruction of the LCL in addition to the ACL has been said to be "considered a complication" but it is expected to heal alongside the ACL. The rehab process will focus on strengthening Griffin's quadriceps muscles to help stabilise the knee. If there are no setbacks, Griffin is in the frame to participate in training camp to some extent and should be ready to start in week 1 of the regular season in September. Griffin tweeted "Thank you for your prayers and support. I love God, my family, my team, the fans, & I love this game. See you guys next season," this morning. He will undergo surgery today.
But even at that, was it really worth Mike Shanahan risking his prize asset in such a way? Griffin was clearly already hurt by the end of the fourth quarter, yet he played him throughout the second and third, and the start of the fourth although he was clearly getting worse as time went on. It looked just a matter of time before he blew the knee - which you have to remember was reconstructed previously - and it duly happened. Washington gave up the next two years' first round draft picks to get Griffin, to risk him in the way Shanahan did was inexcusable for that reason, and also that he was playing with the career of a 22 year old kid. A 22 year old kid who had been hurt before. A 22 year old kid he had risked even despite the team doctor not having cleared him to just weeks earlier. I'm fully aware that Shanahan wanted to win the match, but even if he had done, he would not have had Griffin to face the Atlanta Falcons this weekend anyway.
Shanahan made a big error in judgement, let's just hope Griffin recovers and it doesn't turn out to be catastrophic for everyone involved.
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