Su’a Cravens intends to return to football in 2018

Washington Redskins safety Su’a Cravens is planning his return to football next season.

According to his agent, Cravens received medical clearance from a doctor Thursday after dealing with post-concussion syndrome for most of the season. Cravens walked away from the Redskins the week before the season-opener and was put on the team’s season-ending reserve/left squad list in September.

In a statement, the agent, Fadde Mikhail, said Cravens underwent treatment and rehabilitation from Dr. Michael Collins, a renowned concussion expert at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

“[Cravens] is now asymptomatic and cleared to return back to all things football,” Mikhail said. “Su’a is excited and looking forward to the 2018 NFL season and the many years to follow.”

Cravens, a 2016 second-round pick from USC, suffered a concussion in Week 4 of rookie season, causing him to miss two games. The safety has also dealt with other injuries in his career, missing the last three games of 2016 because of an elbow injury. He also missed time in training camp after getting an arthroscopic procedure on his knee.

Cravens, 22, was mulling retirement when he initially left the Redskins. At the time, Redskins coach Jay Gruden said the safety was dealing with some personal issues and would have to sort out whether he wanted to play football again.

Entering his second season, the Redskins planned on Cravens playing a large role in their secondary. The team moved him back to safety, his natural position, after spending his rookie year playing linebacker.

It is unclear how the Redskins would react if Cravens tried to rejoin the team for 2018. Cravens reportedly approached the team in September about a return, only to be put on the season-ending reserve/left squad days later, two weeks before a decision officially had to be made.

The Redskins still hold the rights to Cravens, who will have two years left on his contract after this season.