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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATED: Multiple deaths reported following shooting at Umpqua Community College ... City will dedicate new community center Saturday ... Rep. Peter Buckley says he won't run for House again in 2016 ... UPDATED: Multiple deaths reported following shooting at Umpqua Community College ... City will dedicate new community center Saturday ... Rep. Peter Buckley says he won't run for House again in 2016 ... NFL REPORT Cousins named Redskins starting QB Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 2:00 AM By The Associated Press Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have made a quarterback change: Kirk Cousins will be the starter this season, not Robert Griffin III. "We feel like at this time, Kirk Cousins gives us the best chance to win," coach Jay Gruden said, unseating Griffin, the 2012 offensive rookie of the year. "It's Kirk's team." Although Gruden said that it's Cousins' job for the season, not just the Sept. 13 opener against Miami, the quarterback is not overconfident. "It's a step in the process," Cousins said. "It doesn't feel like a finish line by any means. Time will tell. It's going to be an interesting ride." Griffin, who has struggled since tearing his right ACL and MCL in a January 2013 playoff loss to Seattle, was scheduled to start last Saturday's preseason game at Baltimore before being scratched the previous day in the wake of a concussion suffered on Aug. 20 against Detroit. Griffin participated in non-contact drills on Monday but remains in the NFL's concussion protocol and won't play in Thursday'spreseason finale against Jacksonville. Cousins is expected to sit out that night with Colt McCoy playing the entire game. Cousins, taken in the fourth round in the same draft that Griffin was chosen No. 2 overall, took over and led Washington's starting offense to its first two touchdowns of the preseason. Those two drives seem to have clinched the starting job for Cousins. "It's not so much what somebody didn't do; it's just what Kirk has done ... has really opened our eyes," said Gruden, who admitted that he was a little surprised to be making this move. "Kirk has played so well ... that he has earned the right to be the starter for 2015." Gruden added that Cousins "has taken a giant leap" since being benched in Week 7 of 2014 after committing 11 turnovers in five games. "Certainly I had some nights where I wasn't sleeping well," Cousins said. "My wife would tell you that I was a bear to deal with." Gruden said the team still believes in Griffin, who has been plagued by injuries since leading the Redskins to the 2012 NFC East title. "Ultimately ... it's my job to say who starts," Gruden said. "I like Robert as a quarterback. ... The door is not shut on Robert Griffin. There have been no discussions about letting him go. We plan on playing with these three quarterbacks. "Last year, we used all three. We didn't want to, but we had to. I anticipate Kirk taking this job and running with it. I don't want him to go out there and every incompletion see if (another) quarterback's warming up." BILLS: Buffalo made two big moves Monday, naming Tyrod Taylor the starting quarterback and releasing running back Fred Jackson. Taylor won the job over former Bills starter and 2013 first-round draft pick EJ Manuel, and Matt Cassel, a 10-year journeyman who was acquired in an offseason trade with Minnesota. Taylor signed a three-year contact with Buffalo in free agency this offseason after spending his first four years as Joe Flacco's backup in Baltimore. Jackson, 34, with nine seasons in Buffalo, had been the second-longest serving active player and one of the team's most popular players among fans. The Bills acquired LeSean McCoy in a trade with Philadelphia to take over the No. 1 spot, and also selected hard-hitting rusher Karlos Williams in the draft. Buffalo's depth chart at running back also includes Boobie Dixon and Bryce Brown. TITANS: Marcus Mariota might not play in Tennessee’s preseason finale Thursday against Minnesota. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday he might not make a decision on Mariota until he wakes up on game day. Mariota has had a good preseason at least statistically. The No. 2 pick overall out of Oregon and the Heisman Trophy winner has completed 70.4 percent of his passes and is 19 of 27 for 252 yards with only one interception playing 68 snaps over three exhibitions for the Titans (1-2). He has yet to throw his first touchdown with no turnovers since the opener. JAGUARS: Jacksonville traded longtime kicker Josh Scobee to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick in 2016. The Steelers needed a kicker after losing Shaun Suisham (knee) and then Graham Hartley (hamstring) to preseason injuries. The Jaguars will make rookie Jason Myers their placekicker. CHARGERS: Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was a limited participant in practice Monday, two days after heading into the locker room early after hitting his throwing hand on a defender late in the second quarter of the Chargers' preseason game against the Seahawks. Rivers handed off a few times during the portion of the workout open to the media but didn't throw in positional drills. Kellen Clemens was at quarterback in Monday's practice. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Sep. 1, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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