Contrary to the reported diagnosis of Colt McCoy’s fractured fibula, Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden remained optimistic McCoy could return before the season is over.
McCoy underwent successful surgery Tuesday. Gruden said “wishful thinking” is the injured quarterback could return in two-to-three weeks, but the timetable is more likely four weeks, according to Tarik El-Bashir of the Athletic.
The Redskins won’t be placing McCoy on season-ending injured reserve as a result in case he can return in time for the final game of the season and the playoffs Gruden hinted.
In the meantime Mark Sanchez seems pegged to start in McCoy’s place as the Redskins enter Week 14 with a 6-6 record. Washington would more than likely need to win out to have a shot at either the NFC East division title or a NFC wild card berth.
Sanchez was signed on Nov. 19 to serve as McCoy’s backup after starter Alex Smith suffered a broken fibula and tibia against the Houston Texans on a sack. Unfortunately for Washington, McCoy suffered a fracture fibula while sliding on a second quarter-sack in which Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins inadvertently kicked McCoy in the leg.
The Redskins will entertain a number of quarterbacks, searching for a backup for Sanchez. One of those hopefuls won’t be Colin Kaepernick, who Gruden said the team had a discussion about but “will probably go in a different direction.”
