When Trent Williams misses games for Washington, the Redskins usually suffer. It's not rocket science, Williams is arguably the best left tackle in football and a very important cog in head coach Jay Gruden's system.

The five-time Pro Bowler missed six games last season and the 'Skins did not fare well without him. So when news emerged eight days ago that Williams would undergo surgery during the team's bye week to repair the bursa sac in his right knee, some fans freaked out.

Now it's time to exhale.

"I expect Trent to go," Gruden said Monday on the Redskins Talk podcast.

"He's played with a lot worse."

Last season, Williams played through a serious knee injury that required meniscus surgery once the year ended. He played through the pain until the Redskins were eliminated from the playoffs.

This season the Redskins have run the ball well. Before the bye, Washington ranked fourth in the NFL in rush yards, and partly on the encouragement from Williams to sign him, Adrian Peterson is having a strong start to what could be a renaissance campaign.

Williams and the Redskins medical staff scheduled the surgery following the Packers game so he could have the full two weeks to get ready for New Orleans next Monday night. Though he did not speak with the media, Williams was spotted at Redskins Park and seemed to be moving at his normal gait.

Coming off the bye, where the team had no practice last week, and having an extended week because of Monday Night Football gives Williams even more time to get ready. He really doesn't need to practice until Friday, though Gruden said in a press conference Williams could possibly go Thursday.

"We'll see how he's feeling Wednesday when we get back here and go from there," Gruden said. "I'd imagine he'd be down Wednesday and hopefully we get him up Thursday, Friday."

With a talent like Williams, Thursday or Friday is largely irrelevant. Next Monday is what matters.

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