Source: Robert Griffin III in surgery for torn knee ligament During the surgery, doctors will determine whether a second ligament, the anterior cruciate, has been damaged as well, according to a person familiar with Griffin's case. The people who discussed Griffin's situation spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the matter publicly. Early Wednesday, the following message was posted on Griffin's Twitter account: "Thank you for your prayers and support. I love God, my family, my team, the fans, & I love this game. See you guys next season. Griffin was examined Tuesday outside Pensacola, Fla., by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews. The Washington Post reported Monday that an initial MRI exam of Griffin's knee showed possible tears of the two ligaments. Coach Mike Shanahan said at a news conference Monday that the test was inconclusive and that Griffin would see Andrews to determine whether those results reflected new injuries or previous ones. James C. Dreese, a doctor for University of Maryland athletic teams, said an LCL tear requires a longer rehabilitation process than an ACL tear. Dreese, who has no specific knowledge of Griffin's injury, said an LCL tear could keep Griffin out for eight to 12 months. The length of the rehabilitation depends on whether the ligament can be repaired surgically or requires a more extensive reconstruction using a graft from another part of the body or a cadaver. A torn ACL typically requires a six- to eight-month rehabilitation. "When the collateral ligaments are involved," Dreese said, "the concern in the long term is that controlling the rotational component of the knee can be more difficult." Dreese also said LCL tears are usually accompanied by injuries to one of the cruciate ligaments - the ACL or PCL (posterior cruciate ligament). However, he said if there is an ACL tear in addition to the LCL tear, it would not necessarily lengthen Griffin's rehab. Several people with knowledge of the case said Monday that the MRI of Griffin's knee showed he might have suffered at least partial tears of his ACL and LCL. Team officials refused to comment Tuesday about the results of Andrews's exam and the extent of the damage to Griffin's knee. But the decision to conduct surgery suggests the likelihood that it was determined Griffin had suffered a complete LCL tear. Griffin tore the ACL in the same knee in 2009, when he was a sophomore at Baylor University. Tim Kremchek, medical director and chief orthopedic surgeon of the Cincinnati Reds, also said that a full-scale LCL tear could be more devastating than a torn ACL. Unlike the ACL, the LCL cannot be surgically repaired with an arthroscopic operation, he said.