The Washington Redskins don't plan to take any risks with blue-chip quarterback Robert Griffin III and his surgically-repaired knee.

He won't be playing in any preseason games as he builds the strength in his knee, but he will be practicing.

Griffin got hurt during the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks and is expected to return for the regular-season opener after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

And coach Mike Shanahan will take a cautious approach with his star player.

“The current plan is just patience is the key,” Griffin told reporters today. “So I did all I could in the offseason working out, rehabbing. I passed all my tests with Dr. [James] Andrews, with the doctors for the Redskins and with the coaching staff. They just want to make sure that we’re not doing anything too soon that we don’t have to do. So let some of these other guys get ready for the preseason.

“If it comes around that I’m ready to go maybe in the third preseason game, but as far as my understanding goes, preseason is really not even in the air. It’s not a worry at all. I feel like I can play. I think Coach feels like I can play without any preseason. So there’s no need really for that. But patience is the key. Like I said, I’ve done everything I can. So I’m just going to work myself back into it. And it just feels good to be back out there with the guys.”

The goal is obvious: Get Griffin ready for the meaningful football ahead.

“I want to make this decision as easy for everybody as possible,” Griffin said. “So whether it’s Coach, the doctors — the decision for me to play Week 1. If they want me to be patient right now and ramp it up later, then I’m willing to do that. And they know that I’m going be, I wouldn’t say compliant, but I’m going to follow those rules, follow those guidelines, do as much as I can within that. And when it’s time to go full-go, then I’ll be ready to go.”

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun