RG3 will undergo surgery later this week to repair a tear to his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his knee. During the procedure, Dr. James Andrews will determine whether there is also any new damage to the ACL that Griffin tore during his sophomore season at Baylor in 2009. The Washington Redskins have yet to comment on Griffin’s injuries, but sources close to the team have revealed that surgery is set for later this week. Considering all the drama that surrounded Griffin’s injury in Washington’s playoff loss to Seattle, it’s understandable that the Redskins would want to wait until Dr. Andrews confirms the extent of the damage before commenting publicly.
What remains to be seen is how well Griffin will be able to recover from his second major knee injury of the last three years - to the same knee. And, if there is new damage to the previously repaired ACL, what does that mean for Griffin’s future in the NFL? If he were a traditional pocket quarterback, this injury news would be worrisome but not necessarily catastrophic. But because of Griffin’s reliance on his running ability and world-class speed, it’s reasonable to question whether this new injury could be career-threatening.
Obviously, it’s highly likely that Griffin will rehab and return from this injury. But at what price and at what loss of speed and ability. At best one would have to assume that an injury such as this - to a previously repaired knee - would mean that Griffin’s window of potential greatness is getting appreciably smaller. Even the healthiest NFL players are only able to maintain game-changing speed and athleticism for a few seasons. That doesn’t mean that Griffin won’t once again be a great player, but his ability to transcend the sport may have ended in his team’s home playoff loss on Sunday.
What remains to be seen is how well Griffin will be able to recover from his second major knee injury of the last three years - to the same knee. And, if there is new damage to the previously repaired ACL, what does that mean for Griffin’s future in the NFL? If he were a traditional pocket quarterback, this injury news would be worrisome but not necessarily catastrophic. But because of Griffin’s reliance on his running ability and world-class speed, it’s reasonable to question whether this new injury could be career-threatening.
Obviously, it’s highly likely that Griffin will rehab and return from this injury. But at what price and at what loss of speed and ability. At best one would have to assume that an injury such as this - to a previously repaired knee - would mean that Griffin’s window of potential greatness is getting appreciably smaller. Even the healthiest NFL players are only able to maintain game-changing speed and athleticism for a few seasons. That doesn’t mean that Griffin won’t once again be a great player, but his ability to transcend the sport may have ended in his team’s home playoff loss on Sunday.
