Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon (88) is introduced before NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

When Bruce Allen addressed the media on Tuesday, he stated that one of the goals of Redskins OTAs was to get players healthy. “As we get through OTAs, we’ll see if there’s anybody out there who can enhance our roster,” Allen said. “But right now we feel pretty comfortable with the 90 we have. We’re just short in depth in a couple areas because some players are still mending.” Two of those players on the mend, Josh Wilson and Pierre Garcon, are recovering from similar injuries to the labrum.

Wilson played through injury at the end of the 2012 season and underwent off-season surgery on his labrum and pectoral muscle. According to Rich Campbell of The Washington Times, the damage was more extensive than doctors had expected. According to Mike Shanahan, Wilson is recovering well and hopes to be a part of training camp: “He played through it the whole season. It was sore and he played through it. Then he went in there for surgery and it was worse than they thought it was. He’s feeling pretty good.”

Garcon also is recovering from off-season surgery to a tear in his labrum. The wide receiver first announced on NFL Live Thursday. Shanahan was even rosier about Garcon’s prospects: “I mean anytime you get operated on like he did and you’re able to come back as quickly as he has. I was watching him this morning in the weight room and he’s lifting weights he shouldn’t be able to lift. He’s in excellent shape, so I’ll be surprised if he’s not full speed and ready to go once we go to training camp.”

While injuries to players like Robert Griffin and Fred Davis were highly publicized, these injuries flew under the radar and first became apparent to the media on Thursday when the Redskins released a list of players who had not been medically cleared to participate in OTA drills. Both players will need to be healthy if the Redskins hope to make a repeat trip to the post-season.

Aug 25, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon (88) is introduced before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-US PRESSWIRE

The Redskins offensive woes may continue as Pierre Garçon continues to ponder having season ending surgery on his toe.  Garçon sustained the injury on the 88-yard touchdown versus the New Orleans Saints in Week One.

According to the Washington Times:

Garçon said the Redskins’ 3-6 record and potential mathematical elimination in the coming weeks was not something he had thought about in regard to having surgery. If the team goes that route, he said it will be a “group decision.”

Since starting the season and nearly averaging 30 points a game through the first five games, the Redskins’ offense has since stalled in three straight losses to the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers.

September 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Washington Redskins wide receiver Pierre Garcon (88) against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

For the third straight week, Redskins star wide-receiver Pierre Garçon is questionable with a bothersome foot injury. Unlike the past two weeks, Garçon has been practicing with the team, but the coaches have set a limit of what he can do.

There is nothing the team would love more than to have him back, as the ” big-play” factor has been minimal during the absence of the former Colt. Coach Shanahan would love to have his receiver back, but knows that these type of injuries take time to heal. He also knows what a difference Garçon makes on the field

“It [opens the playbook up] a ton. Pierre is a very talented guy, as everybody knows,” Shanahan said. “He’s only played eight plays this year and still had over 100 yards, so you guys can see what a difference he can make on the field.”

In the first half of the Redskins season opener against New Orleans, a Saints defensive-back clipped Garçons foot with his face-mash as the Redskin made his way to end-zone for RG3′s first professional touchdown. In that small amount of time, he racked up 109 yards on eight catches. Fred Davis leads the Redskins in receiving with 142 yards on 11 receptions, which is pathetic regarding the fact Garçon racked almost as much as that in one quater.

Robert Griffin III has obviously missed his top target, as the team has seen missed opportunities on long-balls that Garçon would have made. The inability to stay on offense than effects the defense, as the constant on-field time for London Fletcher and company tires them down and worsens their play, seen extremely evident in the secondary.

Bottom line, the Redskins need Pierre Garçon if they want any chance of competing this season in a tough division. And the team wouldn’t mind have their star player back against a weak and vulnerable Tampa Bay secondary.

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