The arthroscopic knee surgery that Redskins receiver Antwaan Randle El underwent on Tuesday is being described by coach Jim Zorn as minor.  Its impact on Randle El’s future with the team could be major.

Randle El will be sidelined for three-to-four weeks.  On the surface, it doesn’t mean much, since the first game is still months away.  But Randle El will be missing out on reps during key offseason workouts under rookie head coach Zorn, at a time when rookie receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly are getting their feet wet.

Though the Redskins have a history of signing big-name players in free agency and dumping them not long thereafter, Randle El likely isn’t in jeopardy of getting cut in the short term, especially since his salary is only $605,000 in 2008.  But his base pay shoots to $4 million next season, and if the owners don’t vote to extend the CBA through 2012, the Redskins might have to start shedding high-priced players in order to comply with the quirky rules of the last capped year in 2009.

And if Randle El’s absence aids the development of Thomas and Kelly, it would be much easier to make the decision to part ways with Antwaan come next March.