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Redskins Rumors: Trent Williams says he’s unlikely to play again in 2017

By Jacob Camenker

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 26: Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins walks off the field at the end of the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 26, 2015 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 26: Trent Williams #71 of the Washington Redskins walks off the field at the end of the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 26, 2015 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Just a day after receiving his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl nod, Trent Williams confirmed what many already believed to be true. His 2017 season is over.

Trent Williams deserves serious praise for his performance this season. Despite dealing with a very bad knee injury that limited him for almost all of the season, Williams toughed it out and stepped in when the Redskins really needed him on the field. Every big game, he went out there to start at left tackle. He needed some games off for maintenance, but he played on a high level despite the balky knee that would have sidelined many other players.

With just two weeks left in the regular season and the Redskins mathematically eliminated from the postseason race, it appears that Williams will not be trying to lace it up again in 2017. According to ESPN’s John Keim, Williams told him that it’s unlikely he will play again this season and he could have surgery on his knee before the final game. This would be a smart move for Williams.

According to Keim, the rehab time for Williams’ injury is usually six months. So, having the necessary surgery now would allow Williams to return in late June or early July barring any setbacks. Also, if there are any setbacks or if Williams takes extra time to heal, the team can give him the month of July to recover and bring him back during the preseason to work back into game shape. Having the surgery soon would greatly benefit both parties.

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In the meantime, the Redskins have to ensure that they are set up for success on the offensive line in the event that Williams’ injury keeps him out longer than expected. The easiest way to do that would be to bring back Ty Nsekhe. The third year Redskin is actually a restricted free agent despite being 32 years old, so the team can put a high-round tender on him to continue to provide a high quality backup option for the team. Expect them to do just that as an insurance policy.

Elsewhere, it will be interesting to see if the Redskins elect to draft a tackle in the 2018 NFL Draft to develop behind Nsekhe, who would likely leave after 2018 if he’s still playing at a high level. Grabbing a Day 2 guy like Ohio State’s Jamarco Jones or West Georgia’s Desmond Harrison will definitely be an option for the team, though they should probably address other positions of need first.

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At the end of the day, Williams’ surgery will help him get back on track for 2018. Missing the final two contests won’t hurt the Redskins too much. Kirk Cousins will miss him against Denver, but he may sit out Week 17 anyway. And besides, Nsekhe will hold up well and should keep Cousins relatively clean.

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