"When Redskins tight end Chris Cooley missed an afternoon walk-through last week, he was in Alabama visiting renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Cooley made a 15-hour trip out of town late Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning. Though the evaluation did not reveal any structural damage in the veteran's ailing knee, Cooley is not expected to appear in any preseason games.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Cooley visited a specialist but would not confirm that Cooley met with Andrews, who has performed surgeries on high-profile athletes from Brett Favre to Sam Bradford to Stephen Strasburg. Shanahan said surgery would not be required."