Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has taken plenty of criticism for putting quarterback Robert Griffin III on the field with a knee that was less than 100 percent healthy in Washington’s playoff loss. But Shanahan says that Griffin won’t be on the field again until he’s all the way back from the reconstructive knee surgery he needed after that game.
Shanahan said at his press conference today that Griffin won’t see the field “unless he’s 100 percent.” And Shanahan also said that Griffin won’t be allowed to push himself too far in rehab, as much as he might like to try.
“We need to make sure he doesn’t go too quickly because he could set it back,” Shanahan said. “There’s time it’s going to take to do it the right way. The ligament needs time to heal. . . . When you see how hard he’s working, everyone is really optimistic. But you have to let a ligament heal.”
All of the reports about Griffin’s rehab this year have been so optimistic that it sounds like there’s little doubt that he’ll be ready to play in Week One. But the Redskins are wise not to push it, even if it means starting the season with Kirk Cousins under center.