A bad knee injury throws Redskins LT Trent Williams off balance.
The Washington Redskins’ standout left tackle has endured so many injuries over the years that he believes “something has to be torn or broken” to be out of uniform. Williams has missed three of the last five games due to a significant condition in his right knee, which will require surgery at some time. From 2012 to 2016, he missed only three games due to injury.
Williams did not practice Monday and said he is unsure whether he will be ready to play Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys after missing the Redskins’ Thanksgiving Day game against the New York Giants. He declared himself a game-time decision after missing approximately “72 miles of reps” in the previous week.
“I haven’t really had to deal with anything like this in my career,” she remarked. “Usually, I just struggle through anything for a few weeks and it heals. But this is a little different. “I am taking it week by week.”
Williams has not practiced in 15 of the last 18 days that the Redskins have been required to report on a player’s injury status, and he was designated as limited in the remaining three. The 29-year-old has demonstrated that he can play without the benefit of practice, but it is clearly not ideal.
That’s why the Redskins chose to sit Williams against the Giants, given the short Sunday-to-Thursday turnaround and the potential of three games in twelve days.
“That was a major part of it with the short week, without a doubt,” coach Jay Gruden said. “He puts everything on the line on Sunday afternoon, and coming back after a short week with no practice and playing on Thursday is extremely difficult for him. We’ll see if he can play versus Dallas after a couple of days off.
Williams said skipping the Thanksgiving game “gives (the knee) a little more time to calm down after playing” in New Orleans on November 19. When asked Monday how he felt about Thursday’s game in Dallas, Williams said wryly: “I feel like we’re going to go out there and put it together and win.”
That would push the Redskins to.500 and keep their slim playoff hopes alive. But, for genuine, Williams said “we’ll see” about his situation.
Williams will not be playing left guard after Shawn Lauvao was placed on injured reserve with a stinger. Ty Nsekhe, a 6-foot-8 backup tackle, will take over after Williams said he couldn’t manage the adjustment for an entire half.
“I was so pleased to see Ty move in at guard,” said Williams, who played guard briefly last season. “I can’t recall a point in my career when I looked down and the left guard towered over me, and the center was an inch taller than me. I am literally the shortest guy on the line.”
Williams believes he has a shot to play now that the Redskins have placed Lauvao, center Spencer Long, and tackle T.J. Clemmings on injured reserve. Williams, the offensive line’s commander, contacted those players as soon as it was evident their seasons had ended.
“You kind of know,” Williams replied. “It’s really worrisome when you have nerve damage because you never know when it’ll come back. That is also an emotionally charged scenario. Spence is having troubles with both of his quad tendons. The writing was on the wall. We felt those men would have a terrible time finishing the season.”
Throughout his eight-year career, teammates and coaches have often praised him for playing through injuries. He’s garnering the same level of respect this time as he did the last.
“He’s banged up right now and he’s fighting through this season, so hopefully we will be able to use him,” Gruden said in an interview. “But it is all on Trent and the trainers.”
