Washington Redskins Rumors: Robert Griffin III’s Injury Could Be Sign Of Much Bigger Problems

The Washington Redskins lost Robert Griffin III to an injury in the team’s second preseason game, but rumors indicate that the battering he suffered in the meaningless game could be symptom of a bigger problem.

Griffin was hit a number of times in the team’s game against the Detroit Lions on Thursday, facing contact close to every time he dropped back. He ended up getting sacked three times on five pass attempts, being hit six times on eight total dropbacks and fumbling twice.

It was Griffin’s second fumble that ended his night. On the play he lost the ball and Lions defensive lineman Corey Wootton fell on top of him, causing a head injury. The Washington Redskins have not yet detailed the extent of Robert Griffin III’s injury, but many think the injury is a sign of a much deeper problem facing the team.

ESPN noted that Griffin’s protection was putrid, a bad sign for the coming season.

“Griffin struggled all night, but it was largely a function of poor pass protection,” John Klein wrote. “It didn’t help that left tackle Trent Williams was sidelined; his replacement, Willie Smith, was beaten often. The Redskins also have two inexperienced blockers on the right side in rookie guard Brandon Scherff and second-year player Morgan Moses. Both had their issues Thursday.”

USA Today writer Chris Chase thinks Robert Griffin III’s injury is a sign of dysfunctional coaching on Washington’s part.

“So what did head coach Jay Gruden and offensive coordinator Sean McVay do while watching their so-called franchise quarterback get buried into the turf like Jimmy Hoffa? They let him come out for a second drive, then a third and then, inexplicably, a fourth. Other than a 10-yard run by Alfred Morris on the second play of the game, Griffin and the Redskins didn’t move the chains once. And on that fourth drive, on a third-and-16, Griffin, doing his patented “first option taken, let’s run instead,” tried to run to the inside of the field but simply dropped the ball then was injured while falling to the turf to try and recover it. It may have been a concussion, it may have been a shoulder injury, it may have been both or neither at all. (The one thing the Redskins are good at is keeping the media confused.)”

There are rumors that Robert Griffin III’s injury could also have a big bearing on the future of the Washington Redskins. Jay Gruden has been a bit indecisive about Griffin’s position as the team’s starter, saying back in March that he has the job “right now” and saying he hopes Griffin can run with it. That may be a lot more difficult now given his injury.

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