The Washington Redskins signed wide receiver Pierre Garcon to a big contract in the offseason, hoping he could be an effective weapon for rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Unfortunately for Washington, Garcon has been a huge disappointment for the team, playing in only three games while dealing with a foot injury. The receiver spoke about the injury on Thursday, saying that he has a tear in his foot and that "surgery is an option", although he would like to avoid it.
"We knew, but we didn't really want to believe it," Garcon said Thursday to NFL.com. "We wanted to think it was something minor that could be fixed within the five or six weeks that I was out."
According to ESPN.com, the surgery could end his season. "But we don't really want to think about that at all," Garcon said.
The receiver hopes to allow the foot to heal on its own.
"I can play with it. But, you know, I can't really run full speed. I can't really, you know, explode, be fast ... because it's that painful. I could keep going. I can keep trying," Garcon said to NFL.com "But, you know, I'm out there to make plays, not to just, you know, distract the guys or do whatever. But if coach wants me to go out there, I'm more than willing to do it."
Garcon has missed four of the past six games and said his injury is a "plantar plate tear" near his second toe. The plantar plate is a ligament that holds a toe in its joint, according to ESPN.
During the offseason Washington signed the receiver to a $42.5 million, five-year contract. So far, he has only caught eight balls for 153 yards and one touchdown.
"I don't want to be on the sideline," Garcon said. "It is frustrating. But you've just got to think about what's best for it and what's best for your future, because this is long term," said Garcon. "You don't want to make it worse just for one season. As bad as I want to be out there, it's a tough decision we've got to deal with."
The Redskins have a bye in Week 10, which would give Garcon some extra time to heal.
The receiver busted onto the NFL scene in 2009 with the Indianapolis, stepping up after an injury to wideout Anthony Gonzalez. Garcon had a solid regular season, catching 47 balls for 765 yards, and four touchdowns and proving to be a reliable deep threat for Peyton Manning.
He continued that through the postseason, catching 21 balls for 251 yards and two touchdowns to help the Colts make it to the Super Bowl. Although the team lost to the Saints, he was a big part of the offense, making five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.
In 2010 he had a solid season with 67 receptions for 784 yards and six touchdowns, but had his best year last season, catching 70 balls for 947 receiving yards, and six touchdowns even though quarterback Peyton Manning was hurt for the year.
He signed with the Redskins in March as the team's first free-agent acquisition of 2012.
Garcon is not the only injury the Redskins are dealing with as they prepare to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Linebacker London Fletcher is questionable for the game on Saturday after dealing with a head injury. He was held out of practice for the second straight day and will be checked by a neurologist
The loss of Fletcher would be a huge blow to a Redskins defense that is ranked 7th in opponents rushing yards. Fletcher has played in 231 consecutive games since entering the league as a rookie in 1998. That streak is in jeopardy now with the injury.
According to the Washington Times, Lorenzo Alexander would take over if Fletcher cannot play.
"What you lose from London is obviously the leadership role, the type of passion and energy that he brings to the game, much like a Ray Lewis," Alexander said to the Washington Times. "Obviously you can't match what he brings to the game experience-wise. There's not too many guys who have played 15 years and call out defenses. But am I capable of going in there and playing and winning a game for us, as well? Yes. Is Keenan able to do that? Yes. So I think we have depth."
"If Fletcher can't play this Sunday, the silver lining is the Redskins would gain a greater understanding about what life without Fletcher will be like. He hasn't missed a game since joining the Redskins in 2007, but that reality is approaching, as painful as it might be. The list of defensive needs already is long enough, and the Redskins are at least optimistic that inside linebacker isn't one of them."
The Redskins have played much better than last season with the addition of Griffin as quarterback, but if the defense can't hold up with the loss of Fletcher, it's going to be a tough second half of the season for Washington.
