Two weeks into the 2019 season, the Washington Redskins have already 10 players on injured reserve. But, two of those injuries have brought up questions surrounding the team’s medical staff.
Following Week 1, the Redskins placed running back Derrius Guice on IR after he underwent surgery on his meniscus in his knee. A week later, the team placed defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on IR with an ankle injury.
Both of those players suffered injuries during games, were checked out by the medical staff, and returned on the field only to be placed on injured reserve later in the week.
Questions surrounding the handling of injuries by the Redskins is nothing new. The team has been under scrutiny following back-to-back lost seasons due to injuries. In 2017 they had 26 players placed on IR and 28 the following year.
Trent Williams has been holding out and refusing to return to the team, stemming from his frustration with the medical staff’s handling of a growth on his scalp during last season. The left tackle played through the issue, but sought outside care following the season. He underwent surgery in the spring to remove what doctors felt was a cancerous growth.
Then there is the Colt McCoy situation. The quarterback suffered a broken fibula in December. The team rushed him through his recovery process, hoping to get him to return as the Redskins’ playoff hopes remained. That process caused a setback that required McCoy to undergo at least three surgical procedures. While he practiced throughout training camp, he did not play in the preseason and was inactive for the first two games as issues with his leg continue to linger.
Fast forwarding to Guice’s injury, he left the field in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles and was examined in the blue medical tent. He returned to the field and continued to struggle to cut back and explode through gaps. He finished the game with 18 yards on 10 carries.
Later that week, Guice flew to Florida to meet the famed Dr. James Andrews and underwent surgery to trim his torn meniscus. He is expected to be out six-to-eight weeks, forcing the Redskins to place him on injured reserve with hopes of him coming back this season.
I guess you credit DRC for playing through pain that eventually ended his season but man it was rough for him on Sunday. He gave up a ton of yards.
Getting Dunbar/Moreau back would be massive for this team.— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) September 18, 2019
Rodgers-Cromartie limped off the field for one play in the first quarter against the Cowboys. He returned hobbled, and his injury may have affected his play throughout game. And led to him being out of place on a key 51-yard touchdown play.
Now, he is done for the season as he is expected to have surgery on his torn ligament in his ankle.
Fair or not, the Redskins medical staff and their handling of their injuries are under the spotlight and scrutiny. As the injuries continue, Williams remains a holdout, and McCoy struggles to get back on the field, the questions will also continue.
