Robert Griffin Injury: RG3 To Undergo Surgery For Torn LCL, Could Have ACL Tear As Well

Robert Griffin III will need surgery for the injury he suffered in the Washington Redskins wildcard playoff game after doctors determined that he tore his lateral collateral ligament. And it could still get worse.

RG3 is set to have his surgery on Wednesday, ESPN reported, and at that time doctors will see if he has any damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL.

Robert Griffin III suffered the injury late in the contest, with the Redskins trailing the Seattle Seahawks and looking to make a comeback. RG3 bent down to try to pick up a low snap but crumpled to the ground, unable to get up.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has been criticized for leaving RG3 in the game when he was obviously hampered by the knee injury. The quarterback limped on roll-out plays and had trouble stepping into his throws. Shanahan has also been knocked for playing Griffin earlier in the month despite not being cleared by team doctor and noted physician Dr. James Andrews.

The prognosis for Robert Griffin III‘s injury is not good, ESPN notes:

“Griffin also likely tore at least part of his ACL, but it’s unknown how severe it is because a previous knee injury he suffered at Baylor in 2009 required two screws and a rubber band to hold it together.

“Because of the previous injury, doctors initially could not determine Monday if his ACL was partially or completely torn and doctors don’t know what surgery should be performed.”

Other leading physicians have said it definitely looks like RG3 has an ACL tear.

“That looked like an instability episode with a high chance that there would be some damage to the ACL,” Neal ElAttrache, orthopedic surgeon at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. “Any other arm chair doctor, knowing that kind of buckling episode, you wouldn’t be surprised.”

It has not yet been determined how long Robert Griffin III’s injury could sideline the quarterback, or if his recovery would stretch into next season.