WASHINGTON — If Adrian Peterson can do it, maybe Robert Griffin III can, too.

Peterson set an incredible standard this season for NFL players returning from major knee surgery, nearly breaking the NFL season rushing record. Griffin needs to look nowhere else for an inspiration as the Washington Redskins quarterback begins the road back from an operation Wednesday on two ligaments in his right knee.

Griffin had his lateral collateral ligament repaired and his ACL reconstructed for a second time. The surgery was performed in Florida by orthopedist James Andrews, who was optimistic Griffin would be back on the field this fall.

"We expect a full recovery, and it is everybody's hope and belief that due to Robert's high motivation, he will be ready for the 2013 season," Andrews said in a statement released by Washington. "The goal of his treatment is to give him the best opportunity for a long professional career."

But no two athletes — or knee surgeries, for that matter — are exactly alike, so pinning down a date for Griffin's return is an inexact science. Complicating matters is that Griffin tore the ACL in the same knee in 2009 while playing for Baylor.

Players typically need seven to 11 months to return from a second ACL reconstruction, and it often takes up to a year for the ligament to be fully healed.

That's what made Peterson so remarkable. He tore an ACL in late December 2011 and was the league's best back in 2012.

While Griffin heals, the debate will continue as to whether he should have been on the field when he hurt the knee for a final time in the fourth quarter of Sunday's playoff loss to the Seahawks.

Griffin reinjured his knee in the first quarter and was obviously hobbled, but he stayed in the game after convincing coach Mike Shanahan that all was OK.

Eagles interview Notre Dame coach

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles interviewed Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly for their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press.

Kelly was the third college coach Philadelphia interviewed since firing Andy Reid on Dec. 31. Penn State's Bill O'Brien and Oregon's Chip Kelly interviewed with the Eagles last week but chose to stay at their schools.

Notes

• San Diego Chargers president Dean Spanos didn't hesitate to reach outside the organization to hire Tom Telesco from the Indianapolis Colts to replace fired general manager A.J. Smith. Telesco, 40, spent 15 seasons with the Colts, most recently as vice president of football operations.

• The Carolina Panthers hired New York Giants senior pro personnel analyst David Gettleman, 61, as their new general manager to end their lengthy search.

• New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton signed a five-year contract extension that will run through the 2017 season. ESPN has reported Payton will receive more than $8 million per season, making him the NFL's highest-paid coach.

• Green Bay Packers wide receivers Jordy Nelson (ankle) and Randall Cobb (flu) should be ready for Saturday night's NFC divisional playoff game against San Francisco despite missing practice.

• The agent for Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said his client was released from an Indianapolis hospital and that they are finalizing details to begin interviewing for head-coaching jobs. Details of Arians' illness have not been made public.