The Redskins signed former Cowboys defensive tackle Jason Hatcher to one of the riskiest deals in free agency, handing the 32-year-old $10.5 million for the 2014 season. Early results aren't favorable.
Hatcher said Wednesday that he will need to undergo arthroscopic left knee surgery this week, according to multiple Washington outlets. Coach Jay Gruden quickly confirmed the news. Hatcher said it is "only" arthroscopic surgery, and his recovery time is expected to be 4-6 weeks.
A couple notes of caution here:
- Teams are under no requirement to provide details on surgeries in the offseason, much less timetables to return. We've learned over the years that many arthroscopic surgeries turned out to be more serious.
- Hatcher had pain in both of his knees before the injury. He had a career year in Dallas as a versatile interior pass rusher, but he wasn't as effective in the second half of the year because of lingering injuries.
To put it another way: If Hatcher had this surgery before free agency, there's no way the Redskins would have paid him nearly as much.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the heroes discuss which teams "realistically" have no shot at winning the Super Bowl this season.
