Three years ago, Robert Griffin III’s brilliant rookie season came to a painful end in a first-round playoff loss to the Seahawks at FedEx Field. Griffin had his right LCL repaired and his right ACL reconstructed for a second time after twisting his knee in the game and the former Heisman Trophy winner failed to rediscover the success of 2012 over the next two seasons.
The Redskins picked up Griffin’s fifth-year contract option during the offseason, but he was relegated to the role of cheerleader after Redskins Coach Jay Gruden named Kirk Cousins the starter in August. Griffin, who suffered his third concussion during a preseason game against the Lions, was inactive for all but one game this season.
Toward the end of Sunday’s disappointing 35-18 playoff loss to the Packers, Fox’s cameras showed Griffin on the Redskins sideline, hugging stadium personnel as the clocked ticked down on what was likely his final game as a Redskin. It was an emotional scene.
“I talked to Robert Griffin, again inactive for this game,” Fox’s Chris Myers said Sunday. “He said he’s healthy and he’s in limbo. He’s been very supportive throughout the year during Kirk Cousins’s run, in fact even consoling him during this game in some of the tough spots. Griffin said he’s a Redskin as long as they’ll have me. They picked up his option, so by March they’ll have to decide whether they want to trade him, pay him or release him. The ownership and the coaching staff would have to be on the same page, but he’s anxious to play and expects to be playing somewhere, most likely not in Washington.”
#RG3 says his goodbyes in Washington on the @Redskins sidelines #GBvsWAS pic.twitter.com/CTaD6unyF4
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) January 11, 2016
With the #Redskins season over, they'll release RGIII. Just a matter of timing. Was important to owner Dan Snyder he be on the team all year
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 11, 2016
Griffin, who has avoided the spotlight during Cousins’s breakthrough season and has been a supportive teammate, according to Cousins, declined to speak to reporters on Monday as players cleaned out their lockers at Redskins Park. Washington is expected to release Griffin in the coming weeks. The only questions are when, and where will Griffin play next?
RGIII cleaning out his locker for the last time at #Redskins Park. pic.twitter.com/itTqriMAlc
— Hookah Doncic (@MasterTes) January 11, 2016
Robert Griffin III didn't talk to reporters, but cleaned out locker, leaving only this... pic.twitter.com/gOD0gSvHic
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) January 11, 2016