Swollen knee keeps Haynesworth from taking test

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Albert Haynesworth came to work Saturday morning with a slightly swollen knee, forcing him to scrap his latest chance to pass the Washington Redskins conditioning test and keeping him exiled from practice for yet another day.

The two-time All-Pro defensive tackle arrived early at Redskins Park and told the team he had some irritation in his left knee. Doctors recommended that he not take the test and instead ride a stationary bike and get treatment.

"Here's a setback already," coach Mike Shanahan said. "His knee's a little bit swollen. Hopefully it's not too bad."

Shanahan is requiring Haynesworth to pass the test, which consists of two timed 300-yard shuttle runs, before taking part in practice. Haynesworth is the only player required to do so because he skipped the team's offseason conditioning program.

Haynesworth failed the test Thursday and Friday, and it's uncertain when he will try again. He had been undergoing specific training to help him pass the test, which might have contributed to the knee problem.

Haynesworth did make his first appearance on the field during a practice, albeit briefly. Wearing his No. 92 jersey for the first time at this training camp and holding a piece of paper in his hands, he stood to the side and watched the defense walk through some plays for about 10 minutes. He stood next to defensive line coach Jacob Burney, who kept pointing to the other players to help explain the terminology of the team's new 3-4 defense.

After practice, Haynesworth emerged again to walk through some plays individually with Burney and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, as he has done after every practice so far during camp. Haynesworth was also an on-field observer during the afternoon team walkthrough, then remained on the field for more work with Burney and Haslett.

The switch to the 3-4 is the main reason Haynesworth did not want to stay in Washington, but the Redskins did not bow to his wish for a trade after he accepted a $21 million bonus in April.

Now he has to learn the defense, but he is getting taught without actually practicing it. In addition to observing the workouts, he is attending the regular team meetings to learn the schemes and terminology.

"Even though he's not in pads," Shanahan said, "he's still getting the work in."