ESPN Reports:

Kirk Cousins will replace Robert Griffin III at quarterback Sunday when the Washington Redskins face the Atlanta Falcons.

Griffin told reporters Wednesday that Mike Shanahan has informed him that he will be shut down for the remainder of the season as the coach “wanted to make sure I got to the offseason free from injury.”

Griffin said he wouldn’t let the benching “break my spirit” and he vowed to be supportive of Cousins.

“I promise y’all I’ll be there for him every step of the way,” he said.

Cousins, meanwhile, said that although he was starting now, he still considered the Redskins as Griffin’s team.

“Robert is the franchise quarterback here.This is his team,” he said. “My job is to help this team get a win.”

Cousins took the first-team snaps and Grossman worked with the No. 2 offense in the portion of Wednesday’s practice open to the media.

Shanahan raised the possibility Monday of benching Griffin for the last three regular-season games, citing 24 sacks in the past five games and the desire to keep him healthy for the offseason. Griffin’s offseason work prior to this season was compromised by the major knee injury he suffered in the team’s playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January.

A team source on Tuesday said owner Dan Snyder would not intervene if Shanahan decided to make a switch at quarterback.

Cousins was the second quarterback the Redskins took in the 2012 draft, going to Washington in the fourth round after the team took Griffin No. 2 overall. He appeared in three games last season, leading the Redskins to a victory over the Baltimore Ravens after Griffin left with an injury and starting the next week against the Cleveland Browns, another victory. He finished the season with 466 yards on 33-of-48 passing with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

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