Redskins pondered bringing in Kaepernick

Broncos add veteran cornerback to fill for injured Harris

WASHINGTON — The possibility of bringing in Colin Kaepernick for a tryout was “discussed” by the quarterback-needy Washington Redskins, according to coach Jay Gruden, who said Tuesday the team made a “strictly football” decision to look elsewhere.

“Isn’t it obvious what the real reason is?” Kaepernick’s lawyer, Mark Geragos, wrote in an email to The Associated Press.

Kaepernick, who led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance, hasn’t played since the 2016 season, when he began kneeling during the national anthem as a way to protest police brutality and social and racial injustice. He filed a grievance against the NFL last year, saying team owners colluded to keep him off rosters.

Gruden told reporters during a conference call that there would have been “a greater possibility” of considering Kaepernick for a roster spot if the Redskins were in need of a QB in Week 1 rather than at this stage of the season.

“Not a lot of time to really get a brand new quarterback and new system installed and taught in a couple of days of practice,” Gruden said. “So he’s been talked about and discussed, but we’ll probably go a different direction.”

Added Gruden: “You want to have somebody with a similar skill-set to the quarterback you have. Not that Colin can’t do some of the things that I’m talking about, but somebody with a little bit of familiarity.”

Washington quarterback Colt McCoy had surgery Tuesday after fracturing his right fibula in a 28-13 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

McCoy had replaced Alex Smith as the starting QB after Smith broke his right leg in a game last month and was ruled out for the season.

Gruden said McCoy would not go on injured reserve immediately because there is a slight chance he might be able to return to action by Week 17, when the Redskins again face the Eagles.

Now the Redskins will turn to Mark Sanchez, who starts at QB on Sunday for the Redskins (6-6) against the Giants (4-8).

BRONCOS: Veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor has signed with Denver to add depth to its secondary as star cornerback Chris Harris Jr. is out with chip fracture in his right leg.

Taylor is a six-year pro from Boise State who has appeared in 74 career games and made 41 career starts with the Arizona Cardinals (2018), Cleveland Browns (2016-17) and Miami Dolphins (2013-15).

He had 17 tackles and a pass breakup in 10 games for the Cardinals, who released him Oct. 20.

BILLS: Receiver Kelvin Benjamin was cut with four weeks left in the season in an indication of how the receiver underperformed during his 13 months with the team.

The move, announced by the Bills on Tuesday, came as a surprise only in its timing for a player who was not expected to be re-signed by the team once his contract expired following this season.

Benjamin had just 23 catches on 62 targets for 354 yards and one touchdown.

STEELERS: Running back James Conner is dealing with a sprained left ankle and will not play when the AFC North leaders take on the last-place Raiders on Sunday.

Conner, who is second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns (12) and fifth in yards rushing (909), suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of a 33-30 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The team initially believed Conner was dealing with a leg contusion.

49ERS: San Francisco long snapper and former New Mexico State Aggie Kyle Nelson has been suspended 10 games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Nelson will miss the final four games of this season and the first six in 2019 under the suspension handed out Tuesday. He will be able to participate in the offseason program and preseason games before resuming his suspension.

Nelson says he believes the positive test came from a legal supplement. He says he is looking into what supplement caused the positive test and says he will seek legal action against the manufacturer when he finds out.

PACKERS: Green Bay fired Winston Moss, the associate head coach in charge of linebackers and a 13-year veteran of the staff

Interim head coach Joe Philbin announced the move late Tuesday, two days after coach Mike McCarthy was fired.