1. Tight end Chris Cooley reached high in the back of the end zone Tuesday for a catch, then came down hard on his left knee, causing him to slightly limp away. A day later he was back on the sidelines and won’t play in Friday’s preseason game vs. Pittsburgh. Cooley missed three days last week after having fluid drained from his knee.
“There is concern,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “The knee’s sore and hopefully he’s getting treatment. Hopefully he gets better.”
2. Quarterback John Beck did more work Wednesday, but was still left out of the 11-on-11 work and his status for Friday’s preseason game vs. Pittsburgh remains uncertain.Beck injured his groin Saturday and said it felt better Wednesday.
“He looked better, but we’re not going to play him unless he’s 100 percent,” Shanahan said.
That would give the start to Rex Grossman.
“He’s been up and down,” offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said. “Anytime we take this time off it hurts the guy a little bit. We’re trying to get him back to where he was [at the end of 2010].”
3. So Grossman said he thinks the Redskins will win the NFC East — and gets lambasted? Can’t say that it caused much of a stir out here among the players. In fact, it wasn’t even a topic. Yes, Grossman could have said, “We’re going to surprise a lot of people this year.” That could have made the point he wanted to make without causing a fuss. But he has confidence and that’s to be applauded. I also think that had Donovan McNabb said the same thing last year, there wouldn’t have been a controversy. McNabb was proven; Grossman is not a proven starter and that plays into the reaction. And I’m not sure about his statement that the Redskins’ offense is better than the Bears’ offense that reached the Super Bowl. The difference? That Bears team had an all-world defense. Still, he’s confident and showing a little swagger. Nothing wrong with that. Now, go win the job otherwise you’re a backup QB talking about winning a division.
4. One quarterback who won’t play: Marc Verica, who was cut Wednesday. The Redskins then signed Matt Gutierrez, who was released by Chicago earlier this week. Gutierrez, who started his collegiate career at Michigan before transferring to Idaho State, has thrown two passes in three NFL seasons. He’s played with New England, Kansas City and Chicago and also spent time with Omaha of the UFL.
It’ll be tough for Gutierrez to impress the Redskins considering he’s never been in this system.
“It’s a different situation, it’s a short time to learn for everybody,” he said. “You just have to make the best of the situation and go out and play.”
Why did he sign here? The Redskins were the first team to call.
5. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said he’d like to have three quarterbacks play Friday. If Beck can’t play, then undrafted free agent Ben Chappell could get a chance.
Regardless, everyone is ready for a change.
“I’m so sick of going against our defense,” Kyle Shanahan said. “I can’t wait to go against someone else. This year is a little but difference because it feels like we just got started. . . . It will be interesting because we’ll go against a defense that’s similar to our defense.”
6. Mike Shanahan said the Redskins will alternate their kickers vs. Pittsburgh, with Graham Gano likely going first and then Shayne Graham. “That competition usually takes care of itself,” Shanahan said.
7. He also said he might give some of the new defensive starters more time Friday. “They’ve got to get used to our defense,” Shanahan said. “They’ve got to get comfortable within our scheme. … The key is to get them ready for the first regular season game.”
8. Rookie Ryan Kerrigan will play Friday, but because he’s still learning the system, he might not play as much as other starters. And, yes, he will start.
“Right now you can’t put him in too many places,” Shanahan said.
“Ryan is a very intelligent kid who picks things up fast,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. “Is it going to be easy? No. Will he make mistakes? Yes. We know that. But the transition he’s made so far in a short amount of time has been pretty good.”
9. Receivers coach Keenan McCardell on what he sees in Niles Paul, “Hard worker, a guy that is consistent day in and day out. His mood doesn’t change a lot. He’s a guy that comes to work every day and he’s about his business. It’s about being a professional. He lays it all out on the field.”
He also lobbies McCardell for playing time and extra work.
“That’s what I’m used to,” Paul said. “Obviously I know I have a lot of veterans in front of me and I’ll play my role, but I’ll make the most of it when I’m out there. It’s definitely hard to be [patient] because it’s more about pride than anything. But I’m a rookie, I’ll suck it up and play my role.”
10. Reserve guard Artis Hicks is unlikely to play because of a concussion. Mike Shanahan said it’s a long shot that he would be cleared by doctors.
11. Still no date set for strong safety LaRon Landry’s return, Shanahan said. “You keep hoping that with the rehab and the way they’re out there working on the field that it won’t take too long.”
12. Here’s a story on the Redskins’ defense and why it might take time for them to mesh.
