Washington Redskins Release Veteran Cornerback Orlando Scandrick
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Washington Redskins made a surprise move three weeks into training camp by releasing veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick.
Scandrick signed a two-year deal with Washington in March after being cut by the Dallas Cowboys and had been practicing with the first-team defense. Coach Jay Gruden on Tuesday said the play of second-year cornerback Fabian Moreau, sixth-round pick Greg Stroman, undrafted free agents Danny Johnson and Ranthony Texada and supplemental draft pick Adonis Alexander played into the decision.
"It had nothing to do with his play," Gruden said. "It was more the rookies' emergence, really. We drafted Stroman, we got Adonis in the supplemental (draft) and then nobody could really predict Danny and Texada the way they've played. And we want to give Orlando ample time to get on another team."
More than anything, it seemed like Scandrick wasn't a good fit in the Redskins' secondary. They signed him after sending cornerback Kendall Fuller to Kansas City as part of the trade for quarterback Alex Smith but before adding Stroman, Alexander, Johnson and Texada.
Moreau, a 2017 third-round pick, moves into the nickel cornerback spot behind 2015 All-Pro Josh Norman and Dunbar, a converted receiver the team is high on. Gruden hopes releasing Scandrick will get Moreau more snaps in practice and preseason games to prepare him for a bigger role.
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