RG3 cleared for team drills Tuesday at Redskins camp

Robert Griffin III will return to full team drills Tuesday at Redskins camp, the quarterback said Monday.

“That’s the plan,” Griffin said at his weekly news conference in Richmond. “I don’t think it’s a huge step. I just think it’s time to get back out there with my teammates.”

Though Griffin largely downplayed the significance of the move, the ability to participate in 11-on-11 drills for the first time this camp is undoubtedly a milestone in the quarterback’s return from the knee injury that ended his season.

In previous public comments during camp, he had anticipated being cleared for team drills — the closest he has come yet to actual game conditions. So, yes, there is some significance to being cleared for Tuesday’s practice.

“You’ll get to see me play football, just not do 7-on-7,” he said.

Full team practices likely will be the closest Griffin gets to live action before the Sept. 9 season opener, as the plan all along has been for him to sit out all four preseason games. Griffin did say Monday he’ll push coach Mike Shanahan to play in the third preseason game Aug. 24 at home against the Buffalo Bills.

But the bottom line is being ready for the Sept. 9 opener against the Philadelphia Eagles — four weeks from Monday — a date that no longer is in question for the quarterback.

“There’s no doubt I’m playing Week 1,” he said. “That’s just the way I feel about it.”