Kory Lichtensteiger named Redskins' Ed Block Courage Award winner

Left guard Kory Lichtensteiger won the Washington Redskins' Ed Black Courage Award, one of the most prestigious honors handed out at the end of the year. This according to the team's official site.

The award is handed out to one player on every NFL team who displays great courage in the face of long odds.

Lichtensteiger's career was in jeopardy after suffering a brutal knee injury against the Philadelphia Eagles last year, tearing both his ACL and MCL ligaments.

However, the offensive lineman has come back strong and proved to be one of the most important pieces of Washington's offense, starting 14 of the first 15 games in 2012. The Redskins head trainer Larry Hess isn't surprised at how it has turned out, per the team site:

"Leading into surgery and following surgery, Kory was dedicated to his rehabilitation program and getting himself ready for the following year," Hess said. "He had mental and physical toughness through it all – early phases of rehab and late phases of rehab when we got him back on the field."

Count head coach Mike Shanahan as one of the most impressed people in the organization, according to the Redskins site:

"Kory is a warrior," Shanahan said. "He not only came back strong and healthy from a torn ACL in less than a year, but he tore his MCL in that knee as well. To be playing at the high level he is, speaks to the hard work he put in during the offseason."

The award is named after the longtime Baltimore Colts trainer Ed Block, who was known as a great human being and terrific at his craft.