Tim Hightower's Season Is Over After ACL Injury

As expected, Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan confirmed that RB Tim Hightower's season is over after suffering an injury on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Reports say Hightower tore his ACL when he cutting back on a run.

This is bad news for the Redskins but Shanahan has clearly shown from his time in Denver that his teams can be successful with multiple running backs. Ryan Torain and Roy Helu will now see increased action due to Hightower's absence.

Hightower had 17 carries on Sunday suggesting he was back to his role as the top running back in Washington. While this is a tough injury for the Redskins, it won't be one that makes or breaks their season.

Hightower ends his 2011 season with 84 carries for 321 yards and one touchdown for the Redskins.

Check out SB Nation's Hogs Haven for a full recap of what went down last Sunday.

We're still waiting for the official word but it sounds like the Washington Redskins are going to lose Tim Hightower to a torn ACL. The running back went down in Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers and shortly after the game several reports emerged that the team feared he had a torn ACL.

If it is indeed a torn ACL then Hightower's season will be over.

Hightower was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine exactly what's wrong. He hurt the knee trying to cut back on a run and had to be helped off the field. He was already recovering from a shoulder injury entering this game.

Hightower had 17 carries for 88 yards in the game so it appeared he got his starting job back, for one week at least, as Mike Shanahan continues to shuffle running backs.

Check out SB Nation's Hogs Haven for the latest on Hightower's injury.

Washington Redskins running back Tim Hightower is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday to figure out the extent of the damage suffered to his left knee Sunday afternoon. Redskins officials "strongly believe" that Hightower has a torn ACL. Hightower was running with the ball late in the Redskins loss to Carolina and grabbed for his knee without being touched. If it is in fact a torn ACL, he will be finished for the season.

If Hightower is out for the season, Ryan Torain becomes the official number one running back in Washington. He has worked his way into more carries as Hightower has been banged up at times this season. Roy Helu has been operating as the third string running back, but an end to Hightower's season would move Helu into the backup spot. Torain would likely handle the bulk of the rushing load, but you never know what to expect with Mike Shanahan.

Hightower currently has 321 rushing yards and one touchdown through five games. He has had some issues staying healthy, which has allowed Ryan Torain to claim some carries. He and Roy Helu both struggled on Sunday even after Hightower went down. They will look to bounce back next Sunday at Buffalo.

For more on the Redskins, check out Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

Tim Hightower suffered an injury in the second half, sending the Redskins running back to the locker room and hurting his fantasy stats for this week and making his value uncertain going forward.

Before leaving the game, Hightower was an integral part of the offense, racking up 88 yards on 17 carries and he could have been looking at a strong day. Instead, Ryan Torain and Roy Helu took over in the backfield in the Redskins loss. Washington's lone rushing touchdown came from quarterback John Beck. 

Hightower began the 2011 season on a high note before injuries slowed him. He ran for 72 yards and a touchdown in Week 1, then 96 yards in Week 2. Since then, he's accumulated just 65 yards, and missed Washington's Week 6 loss to the Eagles.

For more on the Redskins, check out Hogs Haven. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams and SB Nation's fantasy football hub, and follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates and advice.