Ryan Kerrigan Injury: Updates on Redskins Star's Hand and Return

Washington Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan was unable to return against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 after he fractured his hand. He underwent surgery to repair the hand, per CSN Mid-Atlantic's Rich Tandler, but he is ready to play.

Continue for updates.

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Kerrigan Active for Week 9 

Sunday, Nov. 8

The Redskins announced Kerrigan is available to play against the New England Patriots.

Prior to kickoff, Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic reported, "[Kerrigan will] do [so] with a cast on his right hand. Fingers and thumb will be free, [though]."  

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Latest on Kerrigan's Practice Status

Friday, Nov. 6

The Redskins announced Kerrigan was limited in practice for third day this week.

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Kerrigan Comments on Recovery Timeline

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Kerrigan commented on his recovery after undergoing surgery, per Tandler:

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I'm hoping to play, not miss any game time. We'll see how things progress next week and throughout this week. It would be a stretch this Sunday if we had a game to try to play in that game but fortunately we're on the bye so hopefully I won't miss any time. ...

I'm going to see the surgeon again next week and we'll see how things are. Hopefully I can have a better understanding [of a timetable for his return] at that time. ... I think that for the most part it will be getting the strength back and getting confident in being violent with the hand.

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Kerrigan noted that he injured the hand when he "came around the corner and tried to swipe at the ball [and] fell."

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Kerrigan Has Avoided Injury Bug Throughout His Career

Kerrigan managed to go his first four seasons in the NFL without missing a game, and that streak may be in jeopardy. 

"He played through a painful 'little chip' in his right hand throughout much of last season, a year in which he would record a career-best 13.5 sacks. He also broke his left hand during his freshman season with the Boilermakers, an injury that didn’t require surgery, but one that he also played through," noted Walker.

Kerrigan, 27, signed a five-year, $57.5 million contract extension this offseason after notching 64 tackles, 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2014. He's now had at least 50 tackles and seven sacks in every season he's played. 

And he's still looking to improve.

"I had 13.5 sacks last year; I left a lot on the field with plays where I didn't disengage from the blocker before I tried to tackle the quarterback," he told Andy Benoit of the MMQB early in the season. "So that results in a lot of missed plays—not only for me, it's a missed opportunity [for our defense]."

That desire to improve is what makes him great. It's also what makes him so difficult to replicate. Kerrigan is undoubtedly the most important member of Washington's stout front seven on defense. He's the team's best pass-rusher and one of the better players on the edge in the NFL, making it virtually impossible to replace him.