Chris Cooley is open to rejoining the Washington Redskins -- as long as he figures to see the field.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Friday the team was recently in contact with the tight end, who was released during the final week of the preseason.

Apparently, Cooley hasn't found the starting job Shanahan said he was seeking outside of Washington. And while he's still talking to the organization with which he spent eight NFL seasons, Cooley is not coming back under the current circumstances.

"He's looked at his options, and we talked about things that could possibly happen throughout the year," Shanahan said. "Right now, he would like to still come back as a starter if possible -- if somebody goes down.

"If he did go to another team, it would have to be as a starter. If he doesn't have that opportunity, I think he's just going to sit back and kind of feel himself as time goes on. He's not going to make any decisions quickly."

Fred Davis is entrenched as Washington's No. 1 tight end and is backed up by converted wideout Niles Paul and Logan Paulsen.

Cooley, 30, was limited by various injuries last season and caught a career-low eight passes for 65 yards.

He and wife Christy, a former Redskins cheerleader, are said to be divorcing after four years of marriage.