Robert Griffin III Thinks He Could Miss Preseason But Still Start Week 1

The NFL preseason has often been criticized for being a pointless endeavor that endangers players more than it helps them. In theory, the four preseason games that are played are meant to get players back into the swing of things and to serve as a final chance for many younger players to earn roster spots they haven’t already won at training camp. But there are a large number of players who use the preseason to gauge how far along they are in their recovery from injuries and this year is no exception.

Robert Griffin III is one of those guys who could benefit from working his way back from injury in the preseason but he said he can envision an scenario where that doesn’t happen.

“I’ve thought about that and yeah, I would be comfortable with that,” Griffin said, via the Washington Post. “That’s all I can say. I have no control over whether I play in the preseason or not. I would be comfortable running out of the tunnel at FedEx Field with the smoke and everything.”

While Redskins fans want nothing more than to get RGIII back onto the field, hearing that he could skip the preseason and jump right into regular season football is a troubling idea. Head coach Mike Shanahan said that Griffin would have to at least practice and prove his worth there if he’s going to start Week 1.

“You’d have to practice … not necessarily against an opponent,” Shanahan said to The Post. “He’d have to work with the first-team offense and he’d have to have some practice time.”

Griffin has been seen throwing and running at Redskins camp this month but don’t confuse that for practice. Griffin hasn’t taken contact on his surgically repaired knee and he’s only just begun to put it to test. The knee may indeed be ready for action but Washington isn’t rushing the process and we may not know for sure when Griffin will be back until August.