The Washington Redskins have lost quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colt McCoy for the rest of the season with leg fractures, prompting some fans and pundits to suggest they sign Colin Kaepernick.

Head coach Jay Gruden admitted that the team did take a look at Kaepernick, but they're ultimately deciding not to sign the guy who led the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance six years ago.

"He's been talked about (Kaepernick), and discussed but we will probably go a different direction," Gruden said, via J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.

The 31-year-old Kaepernick was released by the San Francisco 49ers after the 2016 season, and he's been out of football ever since. Kaepernick, of course, drew headlines when he refused to stand for the national anthem.

Kaepernick has been widely praised for starting such a movement, but many NFL owners and president Donald Trump have criticized the action, with the latter saying players who kneel for the anthem should be "fired."

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Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

Kaepernick has filed a lawsuit against the league last year, alleging that the team owners have worked together in keeping him out of the NFL. The lawsuit is still pending.

Right now, veteran Mark Sanchez is the starting quarterback on the Washington roster. He was unproductive in coming in for McCoy during Mondays' game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Sanchez most certainly isn't the guy that will help Washington get in the playoffs.

The Redskins sit at 6-6, one game behind the 7-5 Dallas Cowboys for first in the NFC East. There are very few options available in the free agent market, so it's anybody's guess whom Washington will roll with in these last six games.

What This Means

Many fans and pundits have criticized teams for not signing Kaepernick, given that he's simply a better quarterback than past starting quarterbacks like Trevor Siemian and Sanchez.

Washington's decision not to sign Kaepernick will only raise more controversy, and all eyes once again turn to this lengthy lawsuit process he filed against the NFL. In the meantime, Washington will have to find someone they're comfortable with to lead the offense over the final four games.

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