Tim Hightower would like to stick with Redskins

Tim Hightower would like to return to the Washington Redskins this coming season.

But his first order of business has to be recovering from a torn ACL that ended his 2011 campaign after six games. The Redskins have younger options now too after Roy Helu and Evan Royster stepped up in his absence.

Hightower is a native of Alexandria, Va., so staying at home and playing for the Redskins is his first choice.

“I called it home growing up here, and to be able to call it home for my job, that would be great,” Hightower told the team’s Web site. “I love this organization. Coming back here made me realize how much it would mean for me to be here. Getting a chance to play here and be around family, and just go places and be around fans and this city, it was special for me. This is somewhere I would like to play a long time.”

Hightower might not be healthy enough to hit the practice field until mid-June and that is if everything goes according to plan. He could be added for depth but Helu and Royster had moments late in the season for a team that will focus its offseason on adding a quarterback.

If coach Mike Shanahan’s comments at the end of the year are an indicator, Hightower could indeed be in place again.

“I’m thinking that he’ll be back full-speed, ready to go,” Shanahan said. “A lot of people who have (torn) ACL’s, with the rehab and what they go through, they’re usually able to come back full-speed. And we’ll keep our fingers crossed that he goes through rehab and there are no setbacks and he is as good as new.
 

“I like the way he practiced. He was accountable on a day-to-day basis, the way he played throughout preseason and the first four games. He’s tough, hard-nosed, and he was a good addition to our football team.”

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune