Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said quarterback Donovan McNabb is likely done for the preseason. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, who has been ruled out Friday's preseason game against the New York Jets, said today that his sprained left ankle is progressing and that he is hoping to get some snaps in the team's final preseason game, next week in Arizona. But coach Mike Shanahan, addressing the media a short time later, said that McNabb is likely done for the preseason.

"The chances of Donovan playing in the Arizona game are very slim," Shanahan said. "I haven’t done that in a long time, playing in the fourth game, for obvious reasons: if there’s an injury. So the chances are, we wouldn’t go in that direction."

McNabb sprained the ankle in the second quarter of last Saturday's loss to Baltimore but continued to play. He said that he didn't cause any additional damage by staying in the game. On Monday he wore a walking boot in the morning before switching to an air cast for the afternoon practice. McNabb sported the air cast again yesterday, but today while missing his third straight practice just had the ankle heavily taped.

Playing in a new offense for the first time in 12 seasons, McNabb sees every snap as valuable to his development.

"You want to get as much time as you can with the starters, and continue to make progress. But I’ll stay involved. I’ll keep preparing like I’m starting, and if I see something on the sideline, I’ll talk to Rex. I don’t see it as a setback in the progression. We’re working for [Arizona]. I think I possibly have a chance, absolutely. But we’ll see."

Shanahan naturally would like to have McNabb get as much work as possible, but safety takes the highest priority. And the coach said he believes his quarterback is well prepared, and that not playing this week against the Jets or next week against Arizona isn't significant lost time.

"He’s missing a half. We’d like him to have that half, but we know that’s not possible," Shanahan said. "He’s had a lot of snaps, in OTAs, and training camp. This is something that you deal with all year round. He’s had a few snaps in his career, so I think he can handle it."

McNabb hasn't appeared worried, either. Instead he has remained in good spirits and even kept his first interview since Saturday night light-hearted.

"They told me it was just a 'spraaain'," McNabb said, grinning and making the quotation marks with his fingers, playfully mocking teammate Albert Haynesworth's annoyed interview over the headaches that kept him out of practice last week.

When asked what type of rehab work he was doing, McNabb deadpanned, "I came out here and ran two miles, and did the moonwalk, and some Dancing with the Stars moves, so it's coming along well." The quarterback then burst out laughing, and headed to the locker room.