"Chris Cooley had to get the brace on his ailing left knee refitted Monday. The swelling has reduced so much since last week that it became too loose.

"I noticed today and was like, 'Aw, sweet,' " he said.

The Washington Redskins' star tight end believes his surgically-repaired knee finally is healing properly. He insisted he will play the regular-season opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 11.

"As long as everything continues, I hope to be back in some capacity on the field next week," he said Monday morning. "I can't imagine not playing against the Giants."

Cooley had arthroscopic knee surgery Jan. 3 but could not rehabilitate under the supervision of Redskins' trainers and strength coaches after the lockout began March 12.

He tried fully participating in training camp practices, but his knee reacted badly and swelled. The issue is not his meniscus.

"I have enough cartilage in my knee," he said. "The problem was over a long period of time I was starting to bruise around it, and the joint around it was becoming so irritated.""