Gruden: RG3's ankle not fractured; could return this season
ASHBURN, Va. – Coach Jay Gruden says he optimistic quarterback Robert Griffin III -- no bone fractures in his dislocated left ankle – could return this season. So what happens if backup Kirk Cousins really lights it up while RGIII is out?
First-year Coach Jay Gruden, whose team has an immediate test Sunday at the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles, deflected that hypothetical question Monday.
"We'll cross that bridge when that comes," said Gruden.
"Right now, we're going to prepare with Kirk Cousins as our starter, and Robert's going to rehab. And then all the decisions after that will come after that. But right now we're to go try to do the best we can to get Kirk ready to go and beat Philadelphia."
The Redskins got a measure of good news Monday about Griffin's injury. Gruden said tests showed no bone fractures. He also said there was no ligament damage, "not that we're aware of.'' He said there was no consideration of placing Griffin on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
But the timetable of when Griffin might be back is uncertain. He will be evaluated further by Robert Anderson, an orthopedic surgeon in Charlotte, N.C., who specializes in foot and ankle injuries.
"I think it's too early to tell as far as a timetable is concerned. All we know is it's not a fracture. We're going to put the cast on it for a couple of weeks, get more results from Dr. Anderson, see what he says and go from there,'' said Gruden.
Griffin sustained the injury in the first quarter of Sunday's 41-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Cousins came off the bench and threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, completing his first dozen passes.
The real tests for Cousins are coming up. After Philadelphia, the Redskins will be at home in a Thursday night game against another division rival, the New York Giants. Then they'll host the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in a Monday night game.
"It's tough. Robert Griffin was the heart and soul of our team," said tight end Niles Paul. " … But Kirk came in and played well, and I hope we can keep it together. We've still got to play football."
Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson on Griffin: "He's still on the team. He's still here, and he's healing right now. … We've got to use what we've got. … When people go down, people (have) got to step up."
Cousins, son of a pastor, went 27-12 as a starter at Michigan State and threw for 9,131 yards and 66 touchdowns. After making Griffin the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, the Redskins selected Cousins in round four (No. 102 overall).
Due to Griffin injuries, Cousins had gotten opportunities before Sunday.
In his fifth game as a rookie, he relieved Griffin after he was concussed against the Atlanta Falcons. Cousins threw for one touchdown with two interceptions in a loss. In December of his rookie year, Cousins replaced Griffin (knee sprain) against the Baltimore Ravens. Cousins passed for the game-tying touchdown in the final seconds and Washington won in overtime. Cousins also started the following game and threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Cleveland Browns.
Last season, the Redskins sat Griffin the final three games. He was still on the mend from his rookie knee surgery, and he had struggled. In three starts, all loses, Cousins passed for four touchdowns and was intercepted five times.
He says he learned from those starts last season.
"Every time you go out there you gain confidence and you gain experience,'' says Cousins. " … The fact that I've been in there a little bit in those three games last year and done it for weeks in a row, it does give you confidence. Good or bad, I've been here before."
Griffin is back where he's been – injury rehab.
During his Pro Bowl season as a rookie, he led Washington to a 10-6 record and a division title. But in a wild card playoff loss to Seattle, Griffin went down with a right knee injury and required reconstructive surgery to replace a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).
Griffin missed the ensuing offseason workouts and sat out the 2013 preseason schedule. In the 2013 regular season, running less than he did as a rookie, Griffin threw 12 interceptions, seven more than his rookie year. He didn't throw a touchdown pass this preseason and didn't throw one in the Redskins 17-6 season-opening loss at the Houston Texans.
Gruden was asked about Griffin's durability.
"You know, he had an unfortunate knee injury (in the 2012 season) and this was a fluke deal (with the ankle) where he's rolling out and got his ankle caught in the ground in an awkward way," said Gruden. " … Hopefully, when he recovers from this, it will be the last one he ever has."
Safety Ryan Clark: "We want to get him back healthy as possible. We want to get him back soon as possible, not just for us but for him.''
But the team moves on. Gruden said it wasn't all about Griffin when the Redskins struggled in Houston.
"We're going to try not to make this about Kirk now that Kirk is the quarterback," said Gruden. "We've got to make it about the Redskins moving forward, and everybody needs to get involved and help us through this."
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Follow Gary Mihoces on Twitter @ByGaryMihoces
