By Tarik El-Bashir
CSNwashington.com
The Redskins suffered the first on-field injury of training camp Saturday when backup linebacker Jonathan Goff aggravated the right knee injury that caused him to miss all of last season.
It’s unclear how Goff was hurt, but he went down during 11-on 11-drills as he dropped back in coverage. He suffered a torn ACL in the same knee before the season opener last season as a member of the Giants.
Goff, 26, is expected to serve as backup to inside linebackers London Fletcher and Perry Riley. He started 16 games for New York in 2010.
“We don’t know anything yet,” said Coach Mike Shanahan, who confirmed that it was his right knee. “We’ll do an MRI sometime this evening.”
Goff did not return to practice, but was able to walk from the field to the locker room without assistance or a pronounced limp.
Some other notes from Shanahan’s post-practice news conference:
*Guard Kory Lichtensteiger, who is working his way back from torn ligaments in his right knee, did not participate in the afternoon session. Shanahan said he did not suffer a setback after looking solid Thursday and Friday.
“We just gave him the third day off [and] not overwork him,” the coach said. “He had a couple good days.”
*Asked to assess rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III through three days of camp, Shanahan said, “Good.”
“Every day is a learning experience,” he added. “The more reps you get, the better you feel about the system, the better you feel about NFL defenses, your teammates, what they can do, that they can’t do. …They say it’s the hardest position to play in all of sports. I really believe it is, because there’s so much to learn.”
*Wide receiver Pierre Garçon, who signed a five-year, $42 million contract in March, has impressed the coaching staff with his strength, speed and work ethic. During a cornerback vs. wide receiver drill Saturday, Garçon raced past DeAngelo Hall and hauled in an over-the-shoulder pass from Griffin.
“There’s no question he can be a No. 1 receiver,” Shanahan said. “I’ve been very impressed with the way he’s practiced and handled himself since he’s been here. He’s got a ton of ability. I’ve been very happy.
*Dezmon Briscoe joined the team after getting claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Friday afternoon. Shanahan said Briscoe impressed him on film, and after getting a “positive recommendation” from defensive backs coach Raheem Morris, who was the Buccaneers head coach last season, he decided to give him a look.
Briscoe scored six touchdowns last season, one more than any receiver on the Redskins (Jabar Gaffney, who is no longer with the team).
“I’ve looked at him on film and I liked him,” Shanahan said of Briscoe. “Look at how many touchdown catches he had last year, what he did in college, good size, so we gave him a chance to compete and see what he can do.”
*Shanahan also sounded somewhat annoyed that tackle Jammal Brown has decided to wait until Tuesday to get his hip examined in New York by his personal doctor.
“I just know it’s a little unusual you have to wait a few days to have an MRI,” Shanahan said.
*The Redskins are off Sunday.
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