Cooley aims for quick recovery
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
November 5, 2009
Skins TE still isn't sure how he broke his ankle
ASHBURN - Chris Cooley still isn't sure how he broke his ankle, even after watching a replay of when it occurred. What he's sure about, however, is his desire to play again this season.
"If my ankle feels good, I'm going to play," he said. "It doesn't matter what we're doing."
Cooley underwent surgery to have three pins inserted into his broken right ankle on Oct. 28. He was initially told by a team doctor, who specializes in knees and shoulders, that he was likely out for the season.
But that changed after seeing a foot specialist and he's still optimistic about returning in four weeks. He will be re-evaluated Monday.
"I hope it's four weeks and everything is exactly as planned and I am a super-fast healer and I'm back playing," Cooley said. "I'll have to wait and find out.
"As soon as I can get back and start moving around and running, I'll feel better. But obviously there's getting back into football shape, getting everything going again. I'm sure I'll be fine."
Cooley hasn't dealt with any serious injuries since being drafted by the Redskins in 2004. In fact, Sunday will be the first game he'll miss. He did break his foot in college, missing 25 days and two games.
But this will be different.
"I think it will be hard to watch," said Cooley, who has a team-best 29 receptions and two touchdowns. "I'll be there for all my friends. I'll be there with the team and I'll be a part of the team as much as I can. I'll kind of go out and mess around on the field before the game and try to have some fun and try to help out the guys."
Cooley was injured in the second quarter running near midfield. He was not stepped on and said his foot just came down wrong. He said he was told that then-Philadelphia receiver Terrell Owens suffered a similar injury in 2004. He returned six weeks after surgery to play in the Super Bowl. However, Owens had other problems with his leg that Cooley does not have.
"I've been really positive about it," he said. "I just hope for the best."
