Bruce Allen continues to have optimism that left tackle Trent Williams will ultimately end his holdout and return to the Washington Redskins.
“Well, I think Trent’s gonna play football,” Allen told Sherree Burruss of NBC 4 Washington.
Burruss followed up Allen’s statement and asked if he meant Williams will play for the Redskins or if he would possibly be traded. Allen responded by saying, “No, it will be with us.”
“We had a surprising retirement this week in the NFL,” Allen added, referring to newly retired Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, “and I don’t see Trent retiring.”
There had not been word of Williams considering retirement, but more so wanting out of Washington to the extent of refusing to play for the Redskins again.
Williams reportedly did not like the handling by the Redskins’ medical staff of a growth that was found on his scalp. Sometime after undergoing a surgical procedure to remove the growth, Williams asked for a trade or his release. When that was not granted, he then asked for a new contract, according to a Washington Post report.
When asked by Burruss if he could confirm Williams had a grievance with the medical staff or if it holdout was pertaining to a contract issue, Bruce Allen would not get into specifics of the matter.
“You know, I’m not gonna go into any conversation I have with a player,” Allen said. “He’s told me his thoughts, but we’re now in Philadelphia mode and it’s time to get going.”
Allen’s interview with Burruss was his first comments on Williams since Jul. 23 just before the start of training camp. Then, Allen said he expected Williams would report to training camp. Williams did not and has not.
And that’s been the most telling fact… Williams is not at Redskins Park and has not been around the team all summer. Ian Rapoport recently reported Williams is healthy now after several surgeries and ready to play for someone. It remains to be seen if that “someone” is the Redskins.
