RG3 cleared for sprints as knee rehab remains on track

Robert Griffin III continues to advance in his rehab from knee surgery, as he was cleared Thursday to run cross-field sprints and came through with no problems.

The Redskins quarterback ran sprints in the end zone along with rookies Jordan Reed and Chris Thompson, who also are recovering from injuries. And earlier this week, during organized team activities that weren’t open to the media, Griffin said he ran two miles on the fields at Redskins Park.

Those are just the latest steps as Griffin continues his recovery from the January surgery with an eye on being ready to start the Redskins’ Sept. 9 opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“It’s been a journey,” Griffin told reporters. “Everyone gets to see the flowers and roses side of it — out here running, throwing, feeling good about it, having a little energy, bounce in your step. But I’ve had to be patiently aggressive this whole time — just let my body heal and be aggressive where I can.”

After practicing once again in a long-sleeved spandex top — white this week, after black during last week’s open session — Griffin was asked if he had gotten bigger. After first asking if the questioner was implying he’d gotten fat, he attributed his look to his wardrobe. 

“I mean, it’s definitely the shirt,” he said. “I’m about 225 now, I was 224 last year. You kind of slim down throughout the year, so I’ll probably finish the year about 218. Around this time you do put on a little bit more muscle, and then you maintain it with you throughout the year, so that’s probably why my pecs look amazing.”

One positive Griffin has gleaned from the injury is being forced to work more on the mental side of the game, especially doing as much film study as possible this offseason. That work actually began before Griffin’s season ended in the playoff game against the Seahawks, once knee problems forced the then-rookie QB to be more creative in his approach.

“Being slowed down by the knee kind of slowed the game down for me, because I had to slow down,” he said. “It made me have to get through a lot of my reads. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing this upcoming season, is getting through every single option that I need to get through, while at the same time still being able to use my legs as a weapon.”