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Griffin aims for Week 1 but only if healthy

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is progressing in his recovery from knee surgery and hopes to return for the opening game of the season.

But Griffin cautioned in a statement to ESPN that he won't play until he's healthy.

"My knee is getting better every day. The doctors say I'm ahead of schedule. My goal is to return healthy in Week 1, but if I'm not ready then I will wait until I am, however long that is," he said. "My first NFL season and my injury that ended it showed me a lot about the league, my team and myself.

"I know where my responsibility is within the dilemma that led to me having surgery to repair my knee and all parties involved know their responsibilities as well. I'm looking forward to playing the game we all love so much again and not behind at the negative. Thanks for the overwhelming level of support that I've received, sic em (Baylor) Bears, and hail to the Redskins!!"

Noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who performed the Jan. 9 operation that repaired ligaments in Griffin's knee, last week called his recover superhuman.

Griffin won the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award after passing for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns with five interceptions and rushing for 815 yards and seven TDs in 15 games during the regular season.