After a lengthy wait, Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth returned to practice on August 7, but participated in only a few drills before sitting out the remainder of practice.
The two-time Pro-Bowler arrived at the start of training camp but wasn’t allowed to participate in drills with the team without completing head coach Mike Shanahan’s 300-yard conditioning drill. After failing the drill twice, Haynesworth then sat out the majority of the week with an inflamed knee, but MRI results showed that there was no structural damage.
Haynesworth failed the test on his first try, and a second attempt was cut short when he aggravated his knee.
Shanahan’s conditioning test, which consists of two timed 300-yard shuttle runs, had been taken and completed by different members of Washington’s local media as well as analysts on ESPN.
After passing the test on the morning of August 7, Haynesworth issued a statement to reporters.
“The test is over,” he said. “Now it’s back to playing football. I want to thank all the fans for still supporting me, still wearing 92 jerseys and still believing in me. Y’all have a good day.”
However, according to ESPN, Haynesworth took part in a few defensive drills before putting his sore knee in a wrap and sitting out the offense vs. defense drills.
The 29-year-old has drawn the ire of just about every member—past and present—of the Redskins organization. Washington has already paid him $32 million of the $100 million contract that he signed in 2009. In an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio, former Redskins running back John Riggins lashed out at Haynesworth for putting the team in a difficult position.
“This guy plays when he wants to play, and he takes plays off when you need him out on the field,” Riggins said. “I’ve never been around a coach that thinks for a second that that’s the kind of player that’s going to help you win a championship. So my advice, not that anybody’s asking it, is to fire the guy. Get him the hell out of camp. The guy’s an infection. Why do you want him down in the locker room?”
The Redskins will resume training camp on August 10, and Haynesworth is expected to be able to complete a full practice at that time.
