(Poll)You are Jeff Fisher. You make the call...

[Merlin]

I can't believe the extreme caution being demonstrated around here. Seems to me that treating a guy like he's made of glass will just get in his head that he's gonna get hurt again. I mean, if Todd knows he's been cleared but you sit him for paranoia he's gonna start thinking in a way you don't want him thinking. I don't want that, I want the dude hitting the hole like he never got injured.

Another thing folks are missing IMO is that Fish has to win. He has a RB of incredible skill sitting there, if the dude gets cleared there is no way he will want to sit him. What if this team faces an inspired Skins team that plays over their heads and makes it close? Having Todd carry even 5-10 times might be the difference in a win or loss for this young team. In other words if he's cleared the team is better with him on the active roster.

Another thing... Is there less chance he'll get hurt against Pittsburgh in STL on the turf than in the Skins' stadium? I don't think that's true. Does it matter if it's a week later IF he's ready to go? Does that lessen the chance of injury? Nonsense in my estimation.

Head coaches can't operate off their gut feeling. It's why the team PAYS a medical staff. If the dude is cleared, he plays. Plain and simple, at least from my armchair.

 

[Penguin.]

I'd start him no earlier than the Bye.

 

[Jorgeh0605]

Im on the "if he dies, he dies" bandwagon er... i mean "if hes ready, hes ready".

Fisher has made comments along the lines that the guy is ready at once as long as he is medically cleared so play him. So why wouldn't you?

 

[Ramrocket]

If he's ready on both counts physically and up to speed scheme wise, get him out there. Realistically, 1 or 2 weeks are not going to make a difference in the rehab of an ACL. If the med staff say he's right to go, let him loose.

That's not to say I won't have my heart in my mouth with every step he takes once he does get back!!!

 

[Mackeyser]

On 31 other fields, I'm with a lot of you.... but NOT Fedex Field. That's the ONLY venue where I'd sit a player with a tenuous knee.

Heck, I said after RG3 tore up his knee that the NFL should have come down HARD on Washington for not providing an NFL quality venue and subjecting players on both sides to injury.

And the groundskeepers there should have been fired. I'm sorry, but we've seen other venues be used for concerts, football games and other events and within 2 days, the grounds are really brought back significantly. That Fedex Field looked so bad that night that you couldn't even see the grass between the 20s. It was atrocious and it wasn't the only time that season.

I'm sorry, but that's unacceptable. The field is literally WHERE THE GAME HAPPENS. If the field isn't up to the NFL's exacting standards, then the game is compromised. Now, weather and play can compromise the field of play, but the game needs to start on a field of play as close to the standard as possible. That field, as I said, looked like a fairground parking lot. The only thing missing was some stray striped empty popcorn bags and hay strewn about the field.

If we played Pitt next week at home? I'd say IFF (if and only if) he's ready, then go for it. Get him some runs. Fisher wouldn't start him since it takes time to pick up the protections, but definitely get him some plays.

I just don't trust Fedex Field and will be praying the entire game that we exit that game with no injuries. Heck, I'm praying for that right now...

 

[RaminExile]

I make him wait. Get him real hungry. Get him in the best shape of his life. Then, and only then do I unleash the beast.

 

[RhodyRams]

I read somewhere that team's use the last 4 weeks of game films from the opposing team to set a game plan. True or not,I don't know, but I say sit him until week 5, then he gets an additional week of rest with the bye week to get ready for the rest of the season.

This way he can also get up to speed with blocking assignments and play packages also

But what do I know

 

[jrry32]

Pittsburgh

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

If he's ready, I'd start him now. There are no easy games, but games 3, 4 and 5 are tough. I'd rather have him knock off the rust in a game we should win against Washington, and be at full speed against Pittsburgh.