NFL teams
John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Brian Orakpo has torn pectoral

NFL, Washington Redskins

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins feared the worst for Brian Orakpo -- and that's what they received. The linebacker suffered a torn right pectoral muscle and will require season-ending surgery, coach Jay Gruden said Monday.

It's the third time Orakpo has torn a pectoral muscle in his career. He missed all but two games in 2012 with a torn left pectoral, which he had also torn in the '11 season finale.

"It's a major blow," Gruden said.

Orakpo suffered the injury in the second half of the Redskins' 19-17 win over Tennessee, leaving the game for good in the fourth quarter. It's the third time he's torn a pectoral muscle, though the first two were on the left side, with one of those tears costing him the final 14 regular season games in 2012.

This injury could end his time with the Redskins. They placed the franchise tag on him in the offseason, not wanting to commit long-term to the sort of contract Orakpo desired. Gruden said after that decision that he wanted to see more production, especially game-changing plays.

Orakpo has played through various injuries this season -- a sprained middle finger on his left hand and sprains of his wrist and an ankle. Still, he and the Redskins hoped for more production. Through seven games, he only had half a sack and no game-changing plays. In his previous four full seasons, Orakpo, the 13th overall pick in the 2009 draft, always recorded between 8.5 and 11 sacks, including 10 a year ago.

"His production may not be where people think it should be," Gruden said. "But he's still been playing very good against the run and been disruptive in the passing game and that will be a big loss."

The Redskins were not unanimous in their decision to franchise Orakpo so it'll be interesting to see if they'd bring him back at a lower salary or simply move on. They drafted outside linebacker Trent Murphy in the second round last spring and have used him mostly as a nickel pass rusher. He would occasionally sub for Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan. Murphy has yet to record a sack.

Orakpo has made it known he'd like to stay in Washington long-term and this latest injury won't help his cause to receive the sort of deal he'd like -- from the Redskins or elsewhere. It's too early to know what will happen to him in Washington.

"Obviously we like Brian and he's done some great things for this franchise," Gruden said. "That is something that will have to be addressed when the season is over and moving forward."

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