Redskins’ Pierre Garcon now considering season-ending foot surgery

Although Pierre Garcon will try to test his sprained right foot after the bye week, the Washington Redskins wide receiver voiced little optimism Tuesday about the injury improving anytime soon.

Garcon, who is dealing with a plantar plate tear in his right foot, conceded that season-ending surgery could be an option.

“We’re trying to avoid that at all possible costs,” he said. “But at some time, you’ve got to be realistic and you’ve just got to have it and hopefully it’s a successful surgery and recover from it.”

Garcon said the Redskins‘ 3-6 record and potential mathematical elimination in the coming weeks was not something he had thought about in regard to having surgery. If the team goes that route, he said it will be a “group decision.”

Garcon has not been effective since the first quarter of the season opener at New Orleans, when he aggravated the foot injury during an 88-yard touchdown catch. He appeared in two games since but was then taken off the field in the hopes that rest would the foot.

“It’s getting better,” he said. “I’m trying to put more force on it; I’m walking around every day, I’ve got orthotics in my shoes, and I’m trying to give it a little bit more push. But it’s still not where it needs to be.”

Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that he was more optimistic about safety Brandon Meriweather being able to play Nov. 18 against the Philadelphia Eagles than Garcon.

An extra week of rest could help, but the Redskins are in wait-and-see mode.

“There’s no real update or miracle that happened overnight,” Garcon said. “We’re going to try to go after the bye, see how it feels. But we’re still trying to get as much pain out of it as we can.”

Sundberg ready

With regular long snapper Nick Sundberg ready to return from a broken arm, the Redskins released fill-in Justin Snow.

Sundberg broke his left arm in the season opener and was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return. He said things are great as he prepares to come back. Next is re-establishing chemistry with punter-holder Sav Rocca.

“I just got out there with Sav and did some snapping and punting, trying to work on our timing together,” Sundberg said. “With having two different snappers in a year who snap the ball at different speeds, it’s difficult for him, I guess, just because as a punter you want to be able to get into a rhythm. Now that we’re changing things again, we just want to get out there and get as much work as we can together so that when we step back on the field against Philly, everything is fluid and the way we want it.”

Rocca said the 25-year-old Sundberg snaps the ball quicker than the 35-year-old Snow. So, naturally, there are adjustments.

“He’s a lot younger, so he’s a lot fresher in the game, and he’s a lot quicker. So it’s just a timing thing,” Rocca said. “They’re both good snappers. It’s just a timing/rhythm that I have to get used to again with Nick.”

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