Kyle Shanahan has said that Robert Griffin III's difficult 2013 NFL season will make him a better player in the long run.

The Washington Redskins quarterback had to wear a knee brace throughout the season after undergoing a knee ligament reconstruction last January, scoring 11 fewer touchdowns in total and throwing seven more interceptions than in his rookie season, resulting in him being benched towards the end of the season.

The NFC East side's former offensive coordinator, who joined the Cleveland Browns after being fired at the end of the 2013 campaign, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "I'm not going to say it was easy. Nothing's easy when you go through something like that. But I do believe going through it, Robert and I in the long run, it'll make both of us better.

"It's something that is a challenge, and I do believe going through that, as hard as it was, will help me.

"I think when it's all said and done and Robert and I look back on it, I'm really appreciative of some of the stuff he did for me, and I really believe he'll be appreciative of some of the stuff I did for him."

The Redskins finished bottom in their division with a 3-13 record.