Tight end Chris Cooley’s future with the Redskins is in some doubt thanks to his salary and the knee injury that caused him to miss 11 games last season.
Coach Mike Shanahan is still talking about Cooley as if he’s got a future with the organization, however. Shanahan said Wednesday that he had just spoken to Cooley and that the tight end is feeling as good as he has in a couple of years.
“Chris Cooley right now is feeling great,” Shanahan said, via Zac Boyer of the Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star. “The knee is feeling great. His weight is down. “There’s been no swelling, so hopefully he is full speed once we get started with our OTA days and you know, he can stay injury-free.”
That all sounds positive, but Cooley’s future with the team is still uncertain. He’s set to make $3.8 million this season, a big number for a player who isn’t the team’s top tight end any longer. He could take a pay cut to ensure he remains in Washington, but anything less than that will likely leave him in a precarious state.
The team has Fred Davis, Logan Paulsen and Richard Quinn at tight end and they have been transitioning Niles Paul from wide receiver. That group would only benefit from a healthy Cooley and, for now, it seems the Redskins are still hoping they have one.