ASHBURN —Derrius Guice underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, sidelining the Redskins’ starting running back indefinitely.
The operation was performed by Dr. James Andrews, who also repaired Guice’s left knee after the second-year player tore his ACL as a Redskins rookie in 2018. The LSU product was also limited in 2017, his last college season, by a nagging knee injury, but did not undergo surgery.
Guice, who suffered the injury in Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, met with Andrews and decided surgery was the best option.
The Redskins are still deciding whether to place the 22-year-old on injured reserve, coach Jay Gruden said.
“I don’t have a concern with him getting back to full strength,” Gruden said. “He came back extremely strong with a much more damaged knee last time.
This is more of a minor procedure from what I’ve been told. He will be back. … Eventually, he’s going to show Redskins Nation what he’s all about.”
“Don’t feel bad for me!!” Guice tweeted. “This is what I signed up (for)! It wear and tears on your body over time! I’ve been doing this 15 years!! Trust the process. … Head up chin up and grind.”
The Redskins will now turn to the veteran Adrian Peterson — a week after the 35-year-old was a healthy scratch against the Philadelphia Eagles. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Gruden said he was confident in Peterson’s ability to produce.
Gruden said he addressed the team before leaving Peterson off the game-day roster, but doesn’t see it as an issue moving forward.
Peterson doesn’t either, calling it “water under the bridge.”
“It’s just like a rollercoaster,” Peterson said of the saga. “It’s an all-time high leading up and then you’re at an all-time low. … But I’m a professional. I’ve been through way worse than not being active for Week 1.”
Guice had just 18 yards on 10 carries in Philadelphia.
He told reporters after the game he felt healthy. Guice, though, went into the team’s medical tent during the first half to get evaluated. Riding the bus after the game, Guice felt soreness in his knee, Gruden said Monday.
Guice was expected to be the offense’s workhorse, part of the reason Peterson was inactive Sunday — the Redskins needed the spot for a player who could play on special teams.
Gruden’s handling of Peterson unsettled some veterans inside the locker room. Right tackle Morgan Moses called the move a “slap in the face” during a radio appearance, while running back Chris Thompson acknowledged it “changed everything for a lot of people.”
In his post-game press conference, Gruden quipped the Redskins would use Peterson in the future “if we have a game where we think we can run the ball 55 times in the I formation.” NFL teams, of course, rarely run the ball that often.
But with Guice out, Peterson will get his chance. The former league MVP ran for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns for Washington last season — joining the Redskins in August after Guice’s torn ACL.
Peterson said he sent Guice a long text message, encouraging him to stay positive.
“You’ve just got to wrap your mind around it and accept it for what it is,” Peterson said. “Just grinding and working to get back stronger.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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