LANDOVER, Md. — Robert Griffin III sprained his right knee in the Washington Redskins’ win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, but a team spokesman said an MRI revealed that “everything is clear” in terms of significant ligament damage.
Spokesman Tony Wyllie said Griffin does not have a major knee injury and specifically ruled out a season-ending torn ACL as a result of a hit on the rookie quarterback in the final minutes of regulation in the 31-28 overtime victory.
At about the same time as Wyllie’s announcement, Griffin tweeted: “Your positive vibes and prayers worked people!!!! To God be the Glory!”
By medical definition, a sprained knee means that Griffin has some damage in at least one of the several ligaments in his knee. Wyllie said coach Mike Shanahan will give more information about Griffin’s status Monday.
Griffin was limping and wearing a big black brace on his knee in the locker room after the game. Instead of taking the big step onto the podium for his postgame news conference, he had to walk around the platform and use the smaller steps to get to the microphone.
He had an X-ray at the stadium, and he said doctors poking at his knee told him that his ligaments “felt good.” The worst-case scenario would have been an ACL tear, like the one he had on the same knee while playing for Baylor in 2009.
“I’m not a doctor, but I know what an ACL feels like,” Griffin said before leaving to have MRI. “And it doesn’t feel like an ACL. ... If I felt that, I’d be pretty nervous. But we won the game, everybody’s praying for me, I feel pretty good right now about the whole situation.”
Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner was hurt during Washington’s final drive of regulation when was tackled by Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at the end of a 13-yard scramble.
“I knew as soon as I got hit. I screamed. Like a man, of course,” Griffin added with a laugh. “It hurt really bad.”
Griffin sat out one play, then returned for four more, completing two passes to get the Redskins deep into Ravens territory. But he was also hopping on one leg and eventually fell to the turf, no longer able to continue.
“I knew I needed to get out at that point,” Griffin said. “I couldn’t move. At some point, you have to do what’s right for the team. And if I’m playing the rest of that game, I probably would have hurt myself even more.”
While Griffin was getting treatment on the sideline, Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon with 29 seconds left. Cousins then ran in a 2-point conversion to tie the score 28-28, and the teams headed to overtime. Kai Forbath’s 34-yard field goal won the game in the extra period.
Griffin completed 15 of 26 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. He also ran seven times for 34 yards.
It was the second game this season that the No. 2 overall draft pick has been unable to finish because of an injury. He left the Oct. 7 loss to the Atlanta Falcons because of a concussion, but returned the following week.