Kirk Cousins Injured; RGIII Still Not Cleared For Week 1

A string of words sure to strike fear in the hearts of even the stoutest Redskins fan: Washington's only healthy quarterback is Rex Grossman.

After a scramble in the second quarter, Kirk Cousins limped back to the huddle before taking a seat on the field, obviously in pain. ("Now is not the time to try to be a hero," Cousins said he decided.) He was helped to the sideline, and would not return. X-rays were negative, and he was diagnosed with a right foot sprain. He was on crutches after the game, and will have an MRI today. Mike Shanahan was upbeat, but a foot sprain always carried the danger of the dreaded Lisfranc injury.

Cousins, perhaps irrationally valued by Redskins fans, is at the very least a young, promising backup for Robert Griffin III, who hasn't fully recovered from a shredded knee suffered in last season's playoffs. But with Griffin still not ready to go—according to Mike Shanahan, anyway; Griffin vehemently disagrees—Plans A and B are both up in the air.

Griffin took part in a workout on the field before last night's game, under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff and Dr. James Andrews, who performed his surgery. He wore a shirt reading "Operation Patience," his pet term for his frustratingly length rehab. Griffin went full-speed for about a half-hour, and most encouragingly, didn't look hobbled or tentative in his change-of-direction drills.

The extent of Cousins's injury may not matter, not if Griffin returns as planned for Washington's season opener against Philadelphia. But even that's not assured. Griffin won't be allowed to suit up until okayed by Dr. Andrews. And while Andrews has said only good things about Griffin's progress, he doesn't want him in preseason games, and pointedly hasn't yet cleared Griffin to play in Week 1. That decision won't come until the week before. In the meantime, Redskins fans are free to have panic attacks as they envision the worst-case scenario. (It's Rex Grossman.)