Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III left Sunday’s playoff game against the Seahawks after aggravating his previous knee injury, and doctors fear he may have injured his anterior cruciate ligament.
Griffin was injured midway through the fourth quarter of the 24-14 loss after he tried to recover a fumbled snap. His leg, which was already in a brace designed to support his LCL, bent at an awkward angle as he attempted to jump on the fumble.
When asked if he thought he injured his ACL, Griffin said, “Honestly, it’s up in the air right now. I know coming off the field I thought it was just the same thing (referring to his LCL). But right now, we’ll see what it is”
Griffin is slated to undergo an MRI on his knee Monday, and he hopes the results won’t jeopardize his status for next season.
“No matter what it is, our season’s over right now, and I’ve just got to make sure that I get back healthy no matter what the injury is,” said Griffin.
Griffin aggravated his LCL injury in the first quarter, but continued to play through the discomfort. He was clearly playing through pain, and he was running with a noticeable limp. Head coach Mike Shanahan received some criticism postgame for keeping Griffin in the game, but the rookie quarterback said he wanted to keep playing.
“I probably would have been right back out there on the field,” Griffin said. ”You respect authority. And I respect Coach Shanahan. But at the same time, you have to step up and be a man sometimes and there was no way I was coming out of the game.”
Griffin was able to hobble off the field after medical personnel attended to him on the field, and he was seen walking around the sideline before the final whistle blew.
During the game, Shanahan was saddled with the tough task of weighing the risks between giving the team the best chance to win, and seriously risking a player’s health.
“You got to make decisions based on everything, based on the best interests of him, what gives you a chance to win. But if we thought it had something to do with Robert’s injury, he wouldn’t have been in there,” Shanahan said.
Dr. James Andrews, the team’s renowned orthopedist, said he had feared for Griffin’s health ever since he suffered the initial LCL sprain in early December.
“He passed all the tests and all the functional things we do, but it’s been a trying moment for me, to be honest with you,” said Andrews. “I’ve been a nervous wreck letting him come back as quick as he has.
The team will wait until they receive the MRI results before determining if Griffin will undergo surgery during the offseason.
Related source: USA Today