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

The post Griffin May Have ACL Injury appeared first on Lance Silverman, MD - Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon.

Griffin suffered the injury after he was hit by Haloti Ngata at the end of a run.  Griffin spun awkwardly as he was hit and his right leg whipped violently.  Doctors feared that Griffin may have suffered a torn ACL or MCL, but further testing revealed only a mild sprain of the lateral collateral ligament.  The rookie quarterback initially thought he’d miss at least one game with the injury, but he’s proving to be a quick healer.

“Sunday night, I thought there was probably no chance that I could play the next week,” Griffin said. “And then Monday morning, I felt better about it. Yesterday, I felt better about it. And today I feel really good about it, so it just depends on if I continue to progress the way I am.”

The LCL is one of four important ligaments in the knee, but a Grade 1 sprain is usually associated with minor stretching or tearing.  Griffin said he has dealt with swelling in the injured knee over the last few days, but he’s receiving multiple daily treatments to enhance the healing process.

Griffin tried to continue to play after suffering the injury, but he was relieved by fellow rookie Kirk Cousins after the pain became too much to bear.  Cousins would draw the start if Griffin can’t go, but the mobile quarterback said he wants to do everything in his power to give his team the best chance to win.

“I don’t want to give the Cleveland Browns a competitive advantage [by playing injured],” said Griffin.  “And I don’t want to let anybody down, so I don’t want to say that I’ll be playing and end up not playing.  If I can ensure my safety out there and my health and my career, then I’ll go out there and play. And if not, then I won’t.”

Even if Griffin is forced to miss Sunday’s game against the Browns, it’s amazing that the hit did not cause serious ligament damage.  Extreme ligament damage can sideline an athlete for a full season, and in some cases the damage is career threatening.  Despite being diagnosed with an LCL sprain, Griffin said he’s thankful the injury wasn’t worse.

“I was the happiest guy in the world on Monday to be blessed with the injury that I did have,” Griffin said, “after looking at it so many times.”

Related sources: ESPN, Associated Press

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