Theismann Lost for the Season; Redskins Win

Quarterback Joe Theismann of the Washington Redskins sustained a compound fracture of his right leg Monday night during the Redskins’ 23-21 victory over the New York Giants and will be lost for the season.

Team physician Dr. Charles Jackson said Theismann could be in a cast for up to six months but expressed confidence that the 36-year-old quarterback will be able to resume his career once the injury has healed.

Theismann, the NFL’s oldest starting quarterback who has played the last 163 games for Washington, had just taken a pitchout from John Riggins on a flea-flicker in the second quarter when he was hit by Giant linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Gary Reasons, another New York linebacker, came over the top, and Theismann’s right ankle was twisted underneath him.

Taylor immediately jumped up and began calling for help.

Theismann was carried from the field on a stretcher and taken to Arlington Memorial Hospital, where he underwent surgery early today.

Theismann, who has started 71 straight games, was replaced by second-year man Jay Schroeder, a former UCLA quarterback and minor leaguer for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Schroeder was ready for the challenge. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 221 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Clint Didier in the fourth quarter as the Redskins rallied to win.

Washington’s winning drive began after Mark Moseley’s 28-yard field goal brought the Redskins within 21-17 midway through the final quarter.

They then pulled off their second successful on-sides kick of the game and Schroeder, who had completed just four passes in his two years in the NFL before Monday night, completed three in a row, the last to Didier, who took it away from Giant cornerback Elvis Patterson.

Jackson, an orthopedic surgeon, described Theismann’s injury as “an open compound fracture of the tibia and fibula,” the shin bone and a bone adjacent to it. He said: “The fracture is right at the boot line. The bone has some other cracks in it.”

Jackson estimated Theismann would be in the hospital for 10-14 days. He said Theismann would be in a full cast for up to three months, then would be placed in a half cast for another two to three months.

Asked when Theismann might be able to walk without crutches, the doctor said: “We’re talking about six months at least.”

Theismann completed 7 of 10 for 50 yards before his injury. He drove the Redskins 64 yards on their first possession for a 7-0 lead.

The drive was kept alive when Steve Cox faked a punt and threw an 11-yard pass to defensive back Raphael Cherry for a first down. The Redskins got on the scoreboard on Theismann’s pass to tight end Don Warren.

The Giants tied the score with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter, traveling 80 yards in 14 seconds.

After picking up 24 yards on a pass interference call against cornerback Vernon Dean, the Giants got the equalizer on a 56-yard run by running back Joe Morris.

The Redskins opened the second half with an on-sides kick, Cox recovering his own kick at the Washington 46.

Schroeder, who earlier had hit Art Monk for 44 yards, found him again, this time for 50 yards, and Riggins punched it into the end zone three plays later for a 14-7 lead 3:55 into the third quarter.

The Giants tied it when Morris ran through the right side of the Redskin line for 41 yards, then went ahead with six minutes remaining in the quarter by converting a George Rogers fumble. Perry Williams recovered for New York at the Redskin 22, and Morris scored three plays later from the eight.

That set the stage for Moseley’s field goal and Schroeder’s fourth-quarter touchdown throw to Didier.

“Schroeder was great,” Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs said. “When he came to the sideline, I’ll tell you the man wasn’t even perspiring. I think he’s going to be an unusual guy.”

“I commend him for being prepared to play in the game,” Giant Coach Bill Parcells said. “That’s what a backup is supposed to do. He was ready.”

Said Schroeder: “Every week you always think it’s going to come now, you’re going to play now. When it finally comes, you don’t want it to come like this, with someone getting hurt. But you know you always have to be ready.”

The loss dropped the Giants (7-4) into a first-place tie with Dallas in the National Conference East while pulling the Redskins (6-5) back into contention in the division race.