Robert Griffin III returns for Week 9

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, when Washington players were yelling over Griffin’s press conference Friday, it was not in protest of Griffin but of the team’s decision to allow media into the locker room following afternoon practice. Normally, media are only allowed in the room following morning practice, but Washington made an exception Friday because players had been avoiding reporters during the earlier sessions.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday that the head coach Jay Gruden was overruled by general manager Bruce Snyder and team owner Dan Snyder, who made the decision on high to start Griffin this week for the first time since his Week 2 ankle injury.

“You’d like to have your decision made as soon as possible to get ‘em ready,” Gruden said during his postgame press conference Sunday. “Then you throw Robert in the mix. Robert has a chance to practice on Wednesday, so we’ll have to see where he is – see where he is health-wise, and from there I will make a decision from watching the tape of what I’m going to do.”

That’s where things get really interesting.

The news first surfaced earlier today in a report by The Washington Post’s Mike Jones. Now, the team has confirmed through MRIs that Griffin indeed has avoided a more serious injury.

Washington head coach Jay Gruden clarified that Griffin is not a candidate for injured reserve, and shared some of the team’s other plans as it relates to the rest of the season:

A dislocated ankle could mean an extensive stay on the sideline for the quarterback and may end his season entirely. He was in obvious pain as he was being carted off the field. He gave the crowd a salute on his way to the locker room.