Redskins release tight end Chris Cooley

Redskins tight end Chris Cooley was released on Tuesday. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The Washington Redskins released veteran tight end Chris Cooley on Tuesday, reports the Washington Post.

“It’s been awesome,” Cooley said. “I’ll take some time and make sure what I do in the future is exactly what I want to do."

Cooley wants to be a starter, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said, and the coach told him that Fred Davis is the Redskins’ starter. The team is giving Cooley an opportunity to seek a starting job elsewhere, Shanahan said.

Cooley, 30, was a third-r0und pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Redskins out of Utah State.

Cooley only played five games last season and was placed on injured reserve after his injuring his knee.