Cousins in for Skins

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’s preseason 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.

Gruden said the team still believes in Griffin, who has been plagued by injuries since leading the Redskins to the 2012 NFC East title.

After meeting with Redskins owner Dan Snyder and team president Bruce Allen – who were instrumental in making the trade that sent three first-round picks and a second-round selection to St. Louis for the right to draft Griffin – and general manager Scot McCloughan since Saturday night, Gruden informed the quarterbacks of his decision on Monday morning.

“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.”

Steelers WR Bryant suspended four games

Steelers WR Martavis Bryant was suspended by the NFL for the first four games of the regular season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The second-year player’s appeal of the suspension was denied by the NFL.

Bryant became a key target for Ben Roethlisberger toward the end of the 2014 season, making 26 receptions for 549 yards and eight touchdowns. Pittsburgh already was going to be missing All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell for its opener on Sept. 10 at New England.

Bell also is serving a suspension under the same policy.

Quick Kicks

The Bills turned their offense over to Tyrod Taylor, who won the starting QB job over former starter and 2013 first-round draft pick EJ Manuel, and Matt Cassel, a 10-year journeyman. … The Jaguars traded longtime kicker Josh Scobee to the Steelers for a sixth-round draft pick in 2016. Among active kickers, Scobee ranks eighth in field goals made and ninth in points. The Jaguars will make rookie Jason Myers their placekicker. … Jameis Winston has a sprained ankle that the Buccaneers say is not a major concern. Winston twisted his right ankle during the Bucs’ second preseason game on Aug. 24. Winston has completed 48.9 percent of his passes for 311 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in three preseason games. … The Buccaneers acquired rookie kicker Kyle Brindza from the Lions for TE Tim Wright. Brindza converted all three of his field-goal attempts this preseason for the Lions. … Jaguars TE Julius Thomas might need surgery on his injured hand and could miss multiple games to start the regular season. Thomas, who signed a five-year, $46 million contract that included $24 million guaranteed in free agency, broke a bone in the back of his hand in the preseason opener.… Chargers QB Philip Rivers was a limited participant in practice, 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 had his hand X-rayed Saturday and said after the game that they came back negative.