Redskins sack kicker Suisham, Portis out for season

Washington Redskins Shaun Suisham (R) kicks the winning field goal in overtime as the ball is held by Derrick Frost in their game against Miami Dolphins in Landover, Maryland, September 9, 2007.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Kicker Shaun Suisham was released by the Washington Redskins on Tuesday after missing a late field goal against the unbeaten New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The Redskins signed rookie Graham Gano after kicking tryouts at Redskins Park, the team said in a release.

Washington, languishing in last place in the NFC East at 3-9, also announced that top running back Clinton Portis would miss the rest of the season by placing him on injured reserve because of a concussion.

Portis, who rushed for 494 yards on 124 carries this season, suffered the injury against the Atlanta Falcons on November 8 and has missed the last four games.

Gano, 22, played this season with the United Football League's Las Vegas Locomotives, where he converted 13-of-16 field goal attempts and all 20 extra points.

Suisham hit 18 of 21 field goals this season but missed two key field goals in a 7-6 loss to Dallas on November 22 and a 23-yarder against the Saints that would have given Washington a 10-point lead with less than two minutes to play.

New Orleans (12-0) tied the score on their ensuing possession and won the game 33-30 in overtime.

Suisham joined the Redskins during the 2006 season and converted 81 of 101 field goal attempts in 49 games.

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Justin Palmer and Sonia Oxley)