ASHBURN — Ryan Kerrigan’s right index finger was bent like a meandering road and the bone had pushed through the skin during the Redskins’ finale against the New York Giants.
It turned out to be just a nasty dislocation, despite the troubling optics.
“After seeing it I don’t know how there weren’t any breaks,” Kerrigan said. “It was pretty gross looking. Showed my girlfriend a picture and she was not happy I showed her that picture.”
The injury was one of several that the Washington Redskins linebacker dealt with at the end of the season. He had a deep bone bruise in his right knee, which the team called bursitis. His left elbow was hyperextended and sprained earlier in the season, then sprained again in the final month. At times, he played with a black brace to protect it. Kerrigan also injured a shoulder. He was also covered with the more typical problems produced from football: red scratches on his shoulder, plus a puff and bruised lip.
Kerrigan’s elbow injury is the main concern. He said the plan is for a couple weeks of rest, then re-assess the injury. He hopes the rest allows it to “calm down.” If not, surgery may be an option.
“It already feels significantly better than when I did it again against Carolina,” Kerrigan said.
He is scheduled to play more football at the end of the month. Kerrigan was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his six-year career. Kerrigan was an alternate in 2012.
“I’m planning on it for sure because it’s very exciting for me,” Kerrigan said. “It’s my first time being chosen [as part of the roster]. But, got to be smart. If I’m not right physically, I won’t play. At this point, I’m planning on playing.”
Kerrigan finished with 11 sacks this season despite playing fewer snaps. The Redskins used Kerrigan as part of a rotation with Trent Murphy and Preston Smith, reducing his time on the field. Kerrigan said he thought it helped keep him fresh during the season. He’ll use January as his first steps to refreshing his body in the offseason.
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