Not a moment too soon, quarterback Robert Griffin III Monday made an announcement via Twitter that will cheer the team’s fans: “Doctors cleared me to practice. Coach is going to ease me in. Thank you for your support & See you in Richmond.” It will also start a whole new round of speculation about whether he will, in fact, play in the first regular-season game.

Training camp begins this week at the team’s new Bon Secours training facility in Richmond, Virginia. Griffin has been gradually and impressively in rehab mode since having surgery on both knees in January.

Practices in Richmond are open to the public, beginning this Thursday with a 10 AM “walkthrough” and an actual practice at 3:20. No telling when Griffin’s easing-in process will begin, meaning there’s no info on when he’ll actually see action at Bon Secours. Practices that are open to the public last until camp breaks on Friday, August 16. The team returns to its Ashburn, Virginia, headquarters and practice facilities for the regular season. The full practice schedule, and other relevant fan information, is available on the Redskins website.

There are four preseason games, beginning August 8 in Nashville against the Tennessee Titans. The first home preseason game is August 19 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The regular season begins with a Monday Night Football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field, the first of five prime-time games. The speculation has been that Griffin will not take to the field in a competitive game until the regular season, but, as all fans know, surprises should be expected.