Barring an emergency situation where the now six-time Pro Bowler is needed in the final two weeks, Redskins tackle Trent Williams is turning his sights onto rehabbing an injured knee.
For more than two months now, Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams has fought through excruciating pain in his right knee. Rarely has Williams practiced during that time outside of the occasional Friday practice to determine how his knee is feeling, but he's appeared on game days more often than not.
But in the back of his head, Williams has understood that surgery is likely required this offseason. With two weeks left in the season, that reality is inching close.
"Unless there's a dire need for me, then probably not," Williams told reporters on Wednesday of playing again this season. "As of right now, I can probably be there for emergencies. I'm not sure. It's up to [Redskins head coach] Jay [Gruden]. I've definitely have got to have surgery, so it's going to be a lengthy recovery, so that's what I'm starting to direct my focus on right now."
Williams added that his soon-to-be surgery will be conducted by Dr. Robin West, the Redskins' Director of Sports Medicine.
"She specializes in the patella knee cap area," Williams said. "I'm just going to let her do it, she's familiar with it."
Williams said his recovery to full health could be up to six months, although he's unsure of the process given he's never gone under the knife before.
"This is uncharted water for me," Williams said. "I've never had a surgery in my life, not like a real surgery. I had a staph infection in high school where they just had to cut it out, but I've never had to get anything repaired. Never broke a bone."
This season, the 2010 first-round pick has appeared in 10 games, but has been inactive for four of Washington's last eight games.
Despite his limitations, Williams' production hasn't dipped.
According to Pro Football Focus, the 29-year-old has yet to allow a sack on 363 pass blocking snaps this season. On Tuesday, he earned his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl selection, tied for the second longest string of Pro Bowl appearances in a row by a Redskins player in franchise history.
Additionally, Williams is now tied with Hauss and Chris Samuels for the fifth-most total selections in team history.
With Williams status for the final two games up in the air, the Redskins will likely look to Ty Nsekhe to play the final two games at left tackle.
The 32-year-old, of course, entered the season as the team's swing tackle once again but injuries along the offensive line pushed Nsekhe into playing guard from time-to-time.
He started Washington's Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys at guard, but was moved to right tackle in place of an injured Morgan Moses.
"I think with Ty, he is much better suited when he is playing one spot, tackle, and you start moving him around and all that, it's not that easy to go inside at guard," said Redskins head coach Jay Gruden. "It's a different set. It's a different technique. It's different calls for you and all that stuff. I think Ty is a big man and a very good tackle, but in the offseason when we have more time, maybe we can feature him at some guard when we've got all our guys back."
