Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III announced on Monday that doctors have cleared him to practice. As he continues to recover from ACL surgery, running back Alfred Morris has the potential this season to become a top NFL running back.
Griffin reportedly had his knee examined last Wednesday and Thursday by Dr. James Andrews, Rich Campbell of the Washington Times reported. The examination went well, according to Griffin.
It's excellent news for Griffin, whose goal of playing in Week 1 appears even more likely to happen. Griffin had been working with a rehab group during the OTAs, and the "easing in" he referred to means now participating in 7-on-7s during training camp, according to Campbell's sources.
It's uncertain whether Griffin will play in any preseason games. Coach Mike Shanahan has said practice is more valuable to Griffin than preseason games.
While Washington won't entirely eliminate the read option, Shanahan is expected to play it safer with Griffin on the ground. It bodes well for Morris, who rushed last season for 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Even with Griffin rushing for 815 yards and seven touchdowns last season, Morris managed to rank No. 2 in the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
Morris' numbers should be even higher this season, since he's unlikely to share as many touches with Griffin. With more touches likely to come his way, Morris' carries could increase from 20.1 per game to around 25 per game, giving the running back more opportunities to post even bigger stats.
He's already proven he can shoulder the workload on the ground. Now in his second year, there's a big possibility Morris emerges as a top NFL running back and earns his first Pro Bowl trip.
