"Redskins tight end Chris Cooley's left knee has not experienced any recent swelling and he said Monday he hopes to begin on-field work next week and be ready to play in the Sept. 11 season opener against the New York Giants.

"This is the best that my knee has felt since last year before I started having soreness," he said in the Redskins locker room. "I can't imagine not playing against the Giants. … I'm not thinking [about returning] Week 2, Week 3, Week 4. My mindset is completely on Week 1."

Cooley pulled himself out of practice Aug. 4 and did some work before shutting down for two weeks.

Once he re-started activity, Cooley rode the stationary bike and went to a local health club to do work in the pool as ways to stay in shape without putting additional stress on the knee."