After the first session of the Washington Redskins minicamp, head coach Jay Gruden acknowledged earlier reports that Arie Kouandjio suffered a quad injury. Gruden said that Kouandjio was getting a second opinion on the extent of the injury, but the Redskins fear it’s torn.
Jay Gruden said they’re still waiting to hear about Arie Kouandjio. Getting a second opinion on his quad. As stated earlier the fear is that it’s torn.
— John Keim (@john_keim) May 11, 2018
If so, Kouandjio could miss the entire season as the expected recovery time is eight months.
Kouandjio had worked to get his body in better shape and even took a different approach to his workouts, John Keim of ESPN.com passed along.
The hard part for Arie Kouandjio: He took a different approach to working out this offseason, per advice from his agent Andy Ross. AK worked more lower body to help anchor better. Lots of mental work.
— John Keim (@john_keim) May 11, 2018
By all accounts he looked better this spring in terms of his body. The Redskins were still wondering how he'd fare athletically inside, but he did show up looking better. If the news is bad, Real tough break for him to not see the work pay off
— John Keim (@john_keim) May 11, 2018
Without Kouandjio, the Redskins’ left guard situation looks more murky than before. Kouandjio started the final six games of 2017 at left guard after an array of injuries across the Redskins’ offensive line. He was rated as the No. 39 guard last season by Pro Football Focus.
Healthy, he was set to compete for the starting left guard position for 2018. Washington re-signed veteran Shawn Lauvao recently to add depth. Lauvao started nine games at left guard for Washington before being placed on injured reserve due to a stinger injury before Kouandjio filled in.
Gruden clarified that Lauvao’s recent signing was before learning of Kouandjio’s injury.
