For a moment, Jason Campbell’s season appeared to be over, his knee buckling after a post-throw collision. Now it appears his stint on the sidelines is over.
Campbell said he will play in Thursday’s preseason finale at Jacksonville, barring any last-minute setbacks. Campbell did more work on the practice field Monday and pronounced his bruised left knee ready for action Thursday.
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Like Campbell, linebacker Marcus Washington is optimistic about his return, saying he would be back for the Sept. 9 season opener. Both returns were earlier than originally anticipated.
“One thing a quarterback can’t do,” Campbell said, “is have too much time away from it because you lose your rhythm and your edge. It’s important not to miss too much time because of all the things you work so hard on over the summer, you don’t want to lose it right before we start the season.”
Campbell said he still has soreness and minor swelling in his knee. But doctors have told him the soreness will remain for a while.
“They said I’m not taking any risk by playing,” Campbell said.
However, he also wants to see how his knee responds in practice today, especially when he runs bootlegs or has to turn the corner. He said he’s been fine moving sideways, but wants to see how it reacts when he pivots.
Coach Joe Gibbs wants to see Campbell play, provided, he said, that the third-year quarterback is 100 percent. Considering Campbell has only started seven games and has played approximately 50 snaps this summer, they want him on the field as much as possible.
“We don’t like him missing anything,” Gibbs said.
Campbell was hit when the left side of the line allowed pressure; Steelers end Brett Keisel hit him in the knee as he threw a pass to tight end Chris Cooley. With left tackle Chris Samuels still out and left guard Pete Kendall a newcomer, the left side remains unsettled.
It’s uncertain how long Campbell, or any of the starters, would play Thursday.
“The main thing is to get a rhythm,” Campbell said.
Meanwhile, Washington dislocated his right elbow against Pittsburgh. Initially, there was a fear that Washington could miss the first game or two of the regular season.
“I’ll definitely be ready for the season opener,” Washington said. “We got the swelling out, the motion is pretty good and I feel good. I’m sure it’ll be sore and stiff when we first get going, but when I get in there I’ll be fine.”
Said Gibbs, “If I’m a betting man, I’d bet on Marcus.”
