The Redskins selected Ryan Kerrigan with the 16th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. In the time since he's started every game for Washington and is a razor's margin away of the franchise all-time sack record.

On Sunday in Carolina, Kerrigan could miss his first game in a Redskins jersey. He sustained a concussion against the Lions last week, and the league dictates the terms of a player's return from a head injury.

Want some perspective on Kerrigan playing in every game since 2011? Think about it - that means Kerrigan has started every game since the first term of the Obama administration. The last time Kerrigan didn't start in the NFL, Kim Kardashian was married to Kris Humphries.

In the years since Kerrigan has been a model of professionalism. In reality, especially after the downfall of Trent Williams and the Redskins organization, Kerrigan has been the Redskins best player in the last decade.

The NFL season consists of 16 games, and Kerrigan has 139 straight starts. In that time, he has 89 sacks, and four of his last five seasons have ended with double-digit sacks.

Redskins interim head coach Bill Callahan got asked about Kerrigan on Wednesday, knowing that his start streak was in jeopardy due to the concussion. The coach was effusive in his praise.

"The nature of what he does every day as a professional athlete, he is the prototype model of what a Redskin is all about. I’ve never seen a pro that takes care of himself the way he does," Callahan said. "Diligent in terms of how he prepares, takes care of his body and trains. I mean he is relentless in his training, his regiment, and his preparation. I’ve got the utmost respect for everything that Ryan does for us as a Redskin."

Callahan has not been the leader of the Redskins that long, but he's been fairly clear that he won't blow false praise. Everything he said about Kerrigan was true.

If the showstopper can't play Sunday, for the first time in a long time, Redskins fans should realize how lucky they've been to watch his excellence and durability for nearly a decade.

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