Robert Griffin III should be healthy at the start of the 2013 NFL season, according to Dr. James Andrews, who performed surgery to repair torn ligaments in the right knee of the dynamic Washington Redskins rookie quarterback.
Andrews, the foremost authority on reconstructive surgery, fixed Griffin’s torn lateral collateral ligament and performed a “re-do” of his previous anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction from 2009, Andrews said Wednesday in a statement.
Sources told ESPN that barring a setback, Griffin would be sidelined between six and eight months, meaning he would be able to participate to some degree during training camp in August and potentially be prepared to go at the start of the season in September.
“We expect a full recovery and it is everybody’s hope and belief that due to Robert’s high motivation, he will be ready for the 2013 season,” Andrews said in the statement.
“The goal of his treatment is to give him the best opportunity for a long professional career,” he said.
Griffin was diagnosed late Tuesday with a complete tear of the patella graft that was used to repair his torn ACL suffered at Baylor in 2009. A Redskins source told ESPN Tuesday that Andrews was likely to use a patella graft from Griffin’s left knee to repair the most recent tear.
Griffin took to Twitter Wednesday.”Thank you for your prayers and support. I love God, my family, my team, the fans & I love this game. See you guys next season,” he wrote.
After reviewing the game film, coach Mike Shanahan said he believes Griffin suffered his knee injury on the play before the errant snap, when his knee gave out as he tried to plant his leg and scoop up the ball.
The knee problems arose for Griffin when he was hit by Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at the end of a 13-yard scramble. Griffin missed one game and returned to play three more while wearing a bulky knee brace, his mobility clearly hindered.
Shanahan has been under scrutiny and criticism for not pulling an obviously hobbled Griffin from the game as he struggled as a passer and runner.
