Skip to main content
Advertising

Ailing knee again sidelines Haynesworth at Redskins camp

ASHBURN, Va. -- On the seventh day, Albert Haynesworth rested again.

This time, he had some company, and he also got to chat with the commissioner.

The fitness of the Washington Redskins defensive lineman remains unresolved one week into training camp. Haynesworth didn't attempt the team's conditioning test Wednesday morning for the second consecutive day, and he won't be allowed to practice until he passes the test.

Haynesworth has been hampered in recent days by a sore left knee and isn't expected to try the test again until the problem subsides.

"The knee's still getting a lot of treatment," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "He's in here early, getting treatment three times a day, he's got a lot of work on that treadmill, so hopefully he passes it in the near future."

Haynesworth's most recent attempt came Monday, when he pulled up after 150 yards of sprints because of irritation in the knee.

Haynesworth wasn't the only Washington player standing around watching practice Wednesday. Shanahan gave several older veterans -- including running backs Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson, linebacker London Fletcher, wide receivers Joey Galloway and Santana Moss, and defensive end Phillip Daniels -- a day off from contact.

"We try to give them a little bit of a break," Shanahan said. "I've done that throughout my career with older players, and it seems to protect them a little bit."

After practice, Haynesworth did some individual work hitting the blocking sled.

Haynesworth is the only Redskins player required to take the conditioning test because he stayed away from the team's offseason conditioning program.

Haynesworth later spoke briefly with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who met with Redskins players during a tour of training camps.

"Albert wants to play football and he wants to get out there and he needs to be able to do that," Goodell said. "But he needs to get himself in proper shape to be able to do that."

Goodell said he had no immediate plans to intervene in the matter.

"I don't look for things to do," Goodell said. "If I can play a helpful role and there's some way that I could help, of course I would evaluate it at the time. But I think these are issues that teams and players go through all the time and they need to get resolved in a way that works for everybody."

Goodell was asked if he has ever run a conditioning test.

"Oh, yes," he answered.

Did he pass it?

"Yes," said Goodell, taking mock offense while reporters laughed. "What? Does that surprise you?"

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an issue.