The Washington Redskins were happy to get Robert Griffin III back Sunday after the rookie quarterback suffered a concussion last week. But Griffin had to make do without his top receiving target yet again.
Wide receiver Pierre Garcon missed the Redskins’ game against the Minnesota Vikings with a lingering right foot injury. Garcon had played the previous two weeks, but this was the third game he missed.
Garcon injured the foot on his 88-yard touchdown catch at New Orleans on Sept. 9.
All along, coach Mike Shanahan has called Garcon’s injury an issue of “pain tolerance.” He was listed as questionable on the official injury report.
“He’s battling it, I can tell,” offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said Thursday. “You can see him on the practice field and in the games that it hurts him to run. He has a lingering foot problem, and it does hurt him. He’s been able to play through it here the last couple weeks, and it helps us having him out there, but no, I don’t think he’s 100 percent. I appreciate him battling through it and being out there for us. I just hope that each week it gets better.”
Garcon jogged around the field before Sunday’s game and seemed to be in pain. After a few minutes testing the foot, he went down the tunnel.
When the inactive list was announced shortly thereafter, Garcon was on it, along with cornerback Cedric Griffin, who missed his third straight game with a hamstring injury.
Report: Redskins facing fine
After Griffin left last week’s game against Atlanta, the Redskins announced to media that the rookie quarterback was “shaken up” and questionable to return.
That could significantly cost the team, according to a report by Fox Sports. Jay Glazer reported the Redskins are facing a “hefty” fine.
“NFL want teams to immediately acknowledge a head injury to prevent concussed players from getting pushed back on field,” Glazer wrote on Twitter.
A team spokesman said Sunday the Redskins had not been notified of any fine.
“I heard that ’shaken up’ got everyone upset, but I understand,” coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday. “We’ll try to go with the correct language from now on and keep you informed. But I thought we did things the right way relative to how we treated Robert. So whatever’s the correct way to make sure that you guys get the up-to-date information, we’ll obviously do that.”
Griffin left last week’s game after absorbing a blow to the head by Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon. He was tested for a concussion on the sideline and inside a small auxiliary room located behind the Redskins’ bench at the base of the seating bowl.
When Griffin failed a memory test, he was escorted from the bench area to the locker room by trainers.
According to the NFL’s return-to-play protocol for those who have suffered a concussion, Griffin was not allowed to return to the game after he failed a memory test.
However, approximately five minutes after Griffin disappeared into the tunnel, the team’s public relations staff announced to media Griffin was “shaken up” and his return was questionable.
The team spokesman who made the announcement said he only relayed the information he was told by the team’s medical staff on the sideline.
Shanahan acknowledged in his postgame news conference that Griffin suffered a “mild” concussion. He then updated reporters throughout the week on the quarterback’s status in regard to tests and the league’s protocol.
Forbath starts on right foot
Kai Forbath knew when signing about the Redskins’ sordid recent history with kickers. “I am, and I’m hoping to stay here for a long time,” he said.
One way to ensure that is to make field goals, especially long ones. He did it Sunday in his first NFL attempt, connecting from 50 yards.
The Redskins scored touchdowns on their next two offensive possessions.
Previous kicker Billy Cundiff was 7 for 12 before being cut, including misses from 57 and 62 yards.
Extra points
Griffin’s touchdown run in the third quarter was his fifth and set a single-season franchise record in that category for quarterbacks. … The Redskins were held to 45 first-quarter yards before piling up 115 in the second.
• Rich Campbell can be reached at rcampbell@washingtontimes.com.
• Stephen Whyno can be reached at swhyno@washingtontimes.com.
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