Redskins lose Cooley for at least four weeks

Already in trouble with a 2-5 record that has them in the NFC East cellar, the bad news continues to pile up for the Washington Redskins.

Coach Jim Zorn on Tuesday said tight end Chris Cooley will miss six to eight weeks and will likely be put on the season-ending injured reserve list with a fracture in the lower part of his right tibia. But a source later on Tuesday said it was “possible” Cooley, who saw another specialist, may miss only four weeks.

Cooley confirmed from his Twitter account that he is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday to get three pins put in his ankle.

Cooley, the team’s leading receiver with 29 catches and two touchdowns, sustained the injury in the second quarter of Monday night’s loss to Philadelphia. He left Redskin Park on Tuesday morning on crutches and with a cast on his right leg.

With Cooley’s absence, the Redskins are missing three of their most indispensable offensive players, at least two of whom are out for the year. Right guard Randy Thomas went down in Week 2 and left tackle Chris Samuels in Week 5.

“It’s just devastating because he’s such a good player for us all over the field and he’s good for our football team,” Zorn said of Cooley. “The loss of him on the field and his fight, much like the other good players it’s going to be a big loss for us.”

With Cooley out, Fred Davis becomes the starting tight end, Todd Yoder moves up to No. 2 and Zorn said a third tight end will be signed before the Falcons game. The Redskins have a weekend off before heading to Atlanta for their eighth game on Nov. 8.

Aside from injuries, the biggest issues covered were the playcalling and the offensive line play.

Sherm Lewis debuted as the playcaller and Zorn said the offensive consultant did an “excellent job.”

Zorn said Lewis called the pass plays and when he determined a run play was in order, would let offensive coordinator Sherman Smith make the call.

“[Lewis] had a lot of preparation by himself, with our staff and with our players to get himself ready to call plays,” Zorn said. “He did an excellent job of having that next play ready and he did an excellent job mixing the plays up. He was bold. He called some shots that we didn’t get off based on protection and breakdowns.”

Many of the Redskins’ offensive breakdowns came in pass protection. Quarterback Jason Campbell was sacked six times. Zorn, though, basically ruled out any immediate personnel changes along the line.

“It wasn’t from a lack of effort, I’ll tell you that right out,” Zorn said. “They’re trying to pull together — it’s just a tough go when you face a good blitzing team.”

Zorn also downplayed Albert Haynesworth’s postgame comments that some Redskins may lack sufficient “want to.”

“I talked to Albert this morning and we had a good conversation,” Zorn said. “He wants the bottom line, like we all do. I just see everybody really fighting hard. I don’t see anybody giving up or cashing it in. I think it can feel that way because we’ve ended up losing some games. I don’t have that feeling about our football team.”

Zorn said the bye week comes at a good time. The Redskins will practice Wednesday before having four days off.

“We’re going to continue to press forward and try to regroup with a little bit of a break and be strong as we come back,” Zorn said.

Note: Other injuries Zorn mentioned included defensive tackles Cornelius Griffin (elbow) and Haynesworth (ankle), Campbell (ankle), running back Clinton Portis (ankle), fullback Mike Sellers (ankle), right tackle Stephon Heyer (knee), linebacker H.B. Blades (knee) and cornerback Byron Westbrook (knee).