Severity of Cooley's injury remains to be seen
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
October 28, 2009
Pro Bowler will have surgery Wednesday
ASHBURN - The Pro Bowl tight end will join the Pro Bowl left tackle and the mainstay right guard at a spot where the Redskins can least afford them: on the sidelines.
But what once appeared to be a certain stint on injured reserve might not be for Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley, who visited a foot specialist Tuesday. There's hope that Cooley's broken right ankle is not as bad as feared and that he could return in about a month.
However, a source stressed that nothing will be known until after his surgery Wednesday. Coach Jim Zorn confirmed the news on his coach's show on WRC Channel 4 that was taped Tuesday. At this point, the team is prepared for any news regarding Cooley -- good or bad.
Cooley tweeted Tuesday night that "3 pins go in the ankle tomorrow. Hopefully be back in 4 weeks. Thanks for all the support."
Cooley broke a bone in his right ankle in the second quarter of Washington's 27-17 loss to Philadelphia Monday night. Right guard Randy Thomas already is on injured reserve and left tackle Chris Samuels will be placed there this week.
"It's devastating," Zorn said of Cooley's injury. "He's such a good player for us all over the field and he's good for our team.'"
Cooley, whose consecutive games streak will end at 87, has a team-best 27 catches for 311 yards and two touchdowns. Second-year tight end Fred Davis will replace him. He caught a career-best seven passes for 78 yards and his first NFL touchdown Monday night.
"That's why they brought me here," Davis said. "He's a Pro Bowler. I just need the opportunity to make plays and I will make them."
But losing Cooley, a two-time Pro Bowler, will sting -- whether for the short- or long-term. He often commanded double teams and he also had a knack for sliding into soft spots of the zone. Receiver Santana Moss knew what it meant for him: "More double teams," he said.
"Chris is like a [Fred] Smoot around here, a guy who livens up the locker room and always has something crazy going on," running back Clinton Portis said. "Fred [Davis] has to step up and I think he will. But we will still miss Chris Cooley."
Linebacker H.B. Blades and corner Byron Westbrook, both special teams players, could miss the Atlanta game after the bye week because of knee injuries. Their absence would be more subtle than the popular Cooley.
The loss of key offensive players and a 2-5 record has made this a trying season for the Redskins.
"Week in and week out it's like, 'When will this nightmare end for us,'" linebacker London Fletcher said.
