Apparently, Albert Haynesworth needs another day off to rest his sore knee.
The Pro Bowl defensive lineman, who injured his knee while twice failing to pass a difficult conditioning test during the first two days of Redskins training camp, plans to sit out again today in hopes of passing Monday and being cleared to practice, two people familiar with the situation said early Sunday morning.
One source said, however, said that Haynesworth could change his mind and insist on being retested before Sunday's morning practice. But the source also described such a scenario as being unlikely.
Haynesworth's knee was swollen when he arrived at Redskins Park on Saturday, prompting team medical personnel to recommend treatment and rest before he again attempts to complete two, timed 300-yard shuttle runs. Coach Mike Shanahan, the Redskins' top football official, will not permit Haynesworth, who skipped all but one day of Shanahan's first offseason conditioning program, to practice until he passes the test.
Haynesworth,who team officials acknowledge dropped 35 pounds in the offseason, fared well in the first phase of his initial attempt Thursday, but needed a lavatory break and was unable to complete the test upon his return. He also ran well in stretches Friday, said Ray Wright, Washington's strength coach.
Although the two-time all-pro has not been permitted to work on the field with his teammates, he has received individual tutoring each day from defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and defensive line coach Jacob Burney. Haynesworth is very far behind his teammates in learning Washington's new 3-4 scheme, so Haslett and Burney are doing what they can to help get him up to speed.
Several team sources, however, say Haynesworth eventually must join in 11-on-11 drills if the team hopes to have him ready to start the season.
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