Nearly back to full health after missing six weeks with a dislocated ankle suffered in Week 2, Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III returned to full practice yesterday (Wed., October 29, 2014) to take his first repetitions with the starters since suffering the injury.

The development put Griffin on track to play in the team’s Week 9 game against the Minnesota this Sunday.

Speaking to Washington Post Redskins writer Mike Jones today, head coach Jay Gruden declared that the team fully intends for Griffin to start this week:

Gruden: Griffin’s progress continues and “every intent right now is for him to be the starter”

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) October 30, 2014

However, Gruden added that there would have to be no medical setbacks for that to take place:

Gruden: if no setbacks, Griffin would start

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) October 30, 2014

When asked if it would be more beneficial to keep Griffin out until after Washington’s Week 10 bye, Gruden said there was simply no point in holding Griffin out if his ankle is indeed fully healthy:

Gruden says “no benefit if he’s heathy to sitting him til after the bye” because no practice allowed during bye. Ankle is strong enough.

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) October 30, 2014

That decision is based on the team’s firm belief that he gives the 3-5 Redskins the best chance to win:

Gruden: “he’s our starter and he gives us the best chance to win”

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) October 30, 2014

Gruden emphasized the fact that the team still has one day of practice left this week, noting that the decision of whether or not Griffin plays will ultimately be his decision:

Gruden continues to say that the team still has one more day of practice. Adds “now the decision is on me.”

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) October 30, 2014

The first-year coach clarified that Griffin has been cleared to play by team doctors, but still needs to get mentally ready in terms of playing quarterback:

Gruden: “he’s cleared by the doctors now it’s a matter of getting him ready from a quarterback standpoint”

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) October 30, 2014

Washington has won two straight games over Tennessee and Dallas to get back on track after a horrendous 1-5 start. Re-inserting Griffin back into an offense he was already struggling to learn before he got hurt could cause some setbacks for them, but it’s clear that Griffin is far and away the best athlete and a major step up from backups Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins.

He’s been aching to get back into the game and prove that his subpar 2013 season was a fluke, but his injury history is definitely a concerning one. Still, if he’s truly ready to play from both a physical and mental standpoint, Washington has too much invested in him to not play him.

But his talent was never the issue in question. As is usually the case with Griffin, it’s going to come down to a matter of how long he can stay on the field.