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As 'Skins practice, big catch stays idle

August 4, 2009 12:35 am

BY RICH CAMPBELL

AUBURN

This Haynesworth didn't bulldoze any offensive linemen or break up any plays in the backfield.

This Haynesworth stood on the sideline, relegated to an observational role. For a few minutes, he wrapped a strength band around his waist and slid his feet slowly from side to side. He wore a jersey, but no pads or helmet.

It was not what the Redskins wanted to see so soon from their $100 million man.

Haynesworth insisted yesterday that his ailing left knee is nothing to worry about. Despite the series of injections he is receiving, despite his absence from the last two practices, and despite his history of durability problems, Haynesworth and coach Jim Zorn did their best to quell fears that the most-expensive free agent in NFL history is damaged goods.

"It's not serious," Haynesworth said after he was stopped by a pack of reporters and cameramen. "If I had to play today, I could play."

Haynesworth received the first of a series of Synvisc injections yesterday. It's a process in which a medication called hyaluronan is injected into the knee to improve the lubrication and cushioning in the joint.

He said he would gauge the soreness before deciding whether to practice in full pads with the team this morning.

Haynesworth has received the injections each of the last few years, so he maintained they are routine for him. The soreness he is currently experiencing is unrelated to the left-knee sprain that kept him out of the last two games of the 2008 regular season, he said. Instead, this stems from an injury he suffered as far back as 2005.

"[The hyaluronan] is just a little fluid in there that I don't have," he said. "This just gives me a little bit more."

Zorn said at least five other Redskins were administered the same series of injections before the start of training camp. Haynesworth didn't receive the shots before camp because his knee didn't become sore until practices began.

"It's like a cushion," said Zorn, who said he received the treatment during his playing career. "It gets you through two-a-days. It doesn't stay in there forever."

Haynesworth needs the injections now and not during the regular season because the Redskins don't hold full-contact practices every day during the season like they do in camp, Zorn said.

The ordeal highlights one of the predominant risks in the Redskins' decision to give Haynesworth a 7-year , $100 million contract that included $41 million guaranteed. The two-time all-pro hasn't played all 16 games in a season since his rookie year in 2002.

A hamstring injury cost him three games in 2007. He was suspended five games for an infamous stomping incident in 2006. He missed two games with a knee injury in 2005. A dislocated right elbow cost him six games in 2004, and a dislocated left elbow sidelined him for three in 2003.

Zorn said the Redskins were not surprised by Haynesworth's latest setback and that they realized when they signed him that these injections might be necessary.

Durability "is a concern, but I wouldn't single him out," Zorn said. "He's not going to play 70 plays a game. He's going to play a percentage. Some of that will be due to the situation, partly how he feels, partly the rotation. We've got to keep him fresh."

Early in camp, Haynesworth has appeared to be worth the massive contract the Redskins doled out. He has been a disruptive force on the defensive line and is a big reason why Washington's defense has outshined the offense. In fact, if Haynesworth hadn't been required to sit out, his knee soreness would have been imperceptible.

He walked off the practice field yesterday, though, with the slightest of limps. After being bombarded with questions, he jokingly offered a different remedy.

"Maybe I'll just lose this leg," he said. "That would be better."

Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com