ASHBURN, Va. -- There's a chance that Chris Cooley will be back this season after all.
A doctor's second opinion on the Washington Redskins tight end's broken right ankle Tuesday gave Cooley hope that he can return to the field in a month.
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The two-time Pro Bowler will have surgery Wednesday, and he gave details via his Twitter feed: "3 pins go in the ankle tomorrow. Hopefully be back in 4 weeks. Thanks for all the support."
The Redskins' most reliable pass-catching threat, Cooley stumbled to the turf without contact on the first play of the second quarter of Monday night's 24-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Cooley, who hasn't missed a game since the Redskins drafted him in the third round in 2004, has 29 catches for 332 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Even if Cooley misses just a few games, the impact will be tremendous on a Redskins offense that's already struggling.
"Much like the other really good players we have on our team, he brings the fight on the field," Zorn said of Cooley. "And it's going to be a big loss for us."
Zorn also said that two backups who play regularly, linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Byron Westbrook, sustained knee injuries Monday night. Both are being re-evaluated, but the coach anticipates neither being available for the Nov. 8 game at Atlanta following this week's bye.
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The Redskins already are without right guard Randy Thomas, who's out for the season with a torn right triceps, and left tackle Chris Samuels, who likely will go on injured reserve this week because of a neck ailment that has jeopardized his career.
"It all builds, but we have to make the best of it, and we will," Zorn said. "The bottom line is to win, and nobody really cares that guys get injured. You feel bad, but the team moves on, and the team stays together and the team will put out great effort to pick up that slack."
Other injuries sustained in the Eagles game include sprained ankles on four Redskins: quarterback Jason Campbell, running back Clinton Portis, fullback Mike Sellers and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Offensive tackle Stephon Heyer stretched a ligament in his knee and was wearing a brace Tuesday, and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin sprained an elbow.
The bye week will give most of those six players time to heal. Heyer could be the most limited when practice resumes.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
