Malcolm Kelly's season ended before it ever really started.

On Tuesday, the Redskins placed Kelly on injured reserve, ending the the third-year wide receiver's season.

Kelly re-aggravated a hamstring injury in practice this week.

The hamstring has bothered him since the second day of training camp.

Mike Shanahan indicated that Kelly teared his hamstring early in camp.

"When he first came in, I thought he was going to be okay," Shanahan said. "And then through rehab, when he tried to go full speed, I think that's when he really hurt himself and set himself back."

Kelly was not available to talk with reporters on Tuesday.

Asked how Kelly handled the news, Shanahan replied: "I think he's disappointed. Any time you can't play, you're disappointed. I think he understands that he needs to get on the field. He hasn't been able to do that.

"You have to be healthy enough, and for whatever reason you have to be able to stay healthy."

By placing Kelly on injured reserve, the Redskins retain his rights into 2011.

Shanahan suggested that Kelly could still be released at some point.

"A lot has to do with how he [rehabs]," Shanahan said. "A like [Kelly] as a person, I think he has a lot of character and a lot of qualities that you look for in a football player. The main thing is, can he get out there on the football field eventually and play.

"If I see the right type of work ethic and if I see him doing the little things the right way, he has a much better opportunity to be with us next year. But I'll evaluate that as time goes on."

Kelly was one of three 2008 second-round draft picks by the Redskins.

In his two-year NFL career, Kelly has started 9-of-21 games and caught 28 passes for 365 yards.