Daniels Gets High Marks on First Real Day Back

One of the players Coach Jim Zorn singled out on the team's first day practicing with pads was defensive end Phillip Daniels.

For Daniels, this year's training camp already is going better than last year's, when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament on the first play of the first day of camp and immediately was placed on the injured reserve list.

Though he felt healthy, a part of Daniels was still a bit apprehensive about his first practice in full pads, his first real action since the end of the 2007 season.

"I had to test my knee out today and make sure it's ready," he said. "I haven't hit anybody since then. I had to go out, push on somebody and test it. It felt great."

Daniels saw plenty of action in team drills and said his knee didn't bother him at all. It marked the first time Zorn was able to see in-person what his big defensive end is capable of.

"He's just so smart," Zorn said. "I'm trying to outsmart him a little bit and he won't be outsmarted. He's big and strong, and he's a real leader on the team."

Daniels viewed Saturday's practice as an important hurdle.

"Now that the confidence level is there, I can just go play."
...

The Redskins have made it through the first three days of training camp without any signicant injuries, though Saturday morning they did experience a couple of minor setbacks.

After participating in individual drills, cornerback Carlos Rogers watched team drills from the sidelines with pain in his calf. Zorn said he wasn't concerned and Rogers is expected to be back on the field for Sunday morning's workout.

Tackle Mike Wililams and guard Rueben Riley left practice early to get fluids.
Fullback Eddie Williams missed all of practice with a sore hamstring.

By Rick Maese | August 1, 2009; 1:34 PM ET

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Comments

OK...a post like this is just begging the gods to blight someone with an injury...

Posted by: p1funk | August 1, 2009 1:45 PM | Report abuse

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/08/01/witten-steers-clear-of-cooley-fray/

Posted by: 4thFloor | August 1, 2009 1:55 PM | Report abuse

OK...a post like this is just begging the gods to blight someone with an injury...

Posted by: p1funk |

Lets hope the injury/tragedy god has finally had his fill with Washington. Based on early returns, looks like he's moved up the road to Philly.

Posted by: TheCork | August 1, 2009 2:00 PM | Report abuse

LAST SENTENCE OF STORY...

"Fullback Eddie Williams missed all of practice with a sore hamstring."--RI RICK MAESE

Rick, you buried the lede. In the past half dozen or so year, by this point in training camp, the 'skins usually have about 15-20 key players gimping around with pulled or torn Hammies.

Someone ought to get all over this story. What are they doing different? Is their new conditioning guy? The weather? Skittles in the locker room? Jessica Simpson back in play?

Posted by: TheCork | August 1, 2009 2:04 PM | Report abuse

Lets hope the injury/tragedy god has finally had his fill with Washington. Based on early returns, looks like he's moved up the road to Philly.

Posted by: TheCork | August 1, 2009 2:00 PM | Report abuse

Or down to Dallas if you count the collapsing tent...

...4th, the comments section of that Cooley/Witten link is pretty funny; a bunch of tight-arsed Witten supporters who take themselves wayyy to seriously, but we are talking about Cowboys folk so I guess it is to be expected.

Posted by: p1funk | August 1, 2009 2:06 PM | Report abuse

HEY J. REID - PLEASE DON'T START "BEING HARD" ON THE TEAM, BECAUSE OF THE HATERS ON HERE.

THEY ARE BEING "HARD ONS"

Posted by: pabrian2003 | August 1, 2009 2:08 PM | Report abuse

How about having the team's BACK

Posted by: pabrian2003 | August 1, 2009 2:09 PM | Report abuse

HEY J. REID - PLEASE DON'T START "BEING HARD" ON THE TEAM, BECAUSE OF THE HATERS ON HERE.

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Daniels Gets High Marks on First Real Day Back