"Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan agreed with Chris Cooley that the tight end was a casualty of the lockout and said that in hindsight, Cooley probably should have been placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list at the start of training camp to give his surgically repaired left knee more time to heal.

Cooley had arthroscopic surgery on the knee at the completion of the 2010 season, but because of the NFL lockout, he and all other players were prevented from setting foot on team property and couldn't have contact with coaches or even the team doctors and trainers.

Cooley said had he been able to rehabilitate under the supervision of the team's medical staff, he and the Redskins would have entered training camp with a better understanding of how far off he was from making a full recovery. "