Quarterback Patrick Ramsey, the Redskins’ first-round draft pick, finally signed with Washington on Wednesday after a 16-day holdout.

However, it’s unlikely he’ll be included in what is now a three-way battle for the starting job. The current candidates are Shane Matthews, Danny Wuerffel and Sage Rosenfels.

New England quarterback Tom Brady works on passing drills as coach Bill Belichick, background, observes during an afternoon practice Wednesday at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I.

“Obviously you can’t get four quarterbacks ready to play,” first-year coach Steve Spurrier said. “It’s hard to get three. We’ve been rotating three, and it’s worked out pretty well in practice. But now we’re getting closer to the season, you start rotating two.”

He’ll start out No. 4, and we’ll go from there. I just don’t anticipate him being a factor early in the season.”

Ramsey agreed to a five-year, $5.7 million deal, according to a football source speaking on condition of anonymity. It includes a $3.1 million signing bonus.

“This whole deal’s been crazy. It’s an unfortunate situation. I’m just thrilled to be here, at this point,” Ramsey said.

The pace of negotiations so frustrated the Redskins that they contemplated trading Ramsey’s rights to the Chicago Bears, with discussions extending well into the night Tuesday.

Ramsey’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, said he actually had a contract agreement with the Bears in anticipation of the trade.

“It took us about five minutes to get a contract deal with Chicago,” Sexton said. “We had our deal in place.”

Meanwhile, defensive lineman Santana Dotson was placed on the injured reserve list after undergoing surgery for a ruptured left Achilles’ tendon. The 11-year veteran was injured Tuesday in a pass rush drill during his first practice of training camp.

Dotson will not play this season, and Kleinschmidt expressed concern over whether the 32-year-old would ever play again.

Texans

Offensive tackle Ryan Young’s groin injury, which has hobbled him since early in training camp, will require surgery that will keep him out 4-to-8 weeks. Young’s injury began flaring up the second week of training camp. When it wasn’t healing properly, Young said doctors examined it and discovered muscle had torn away, tearing off a small piece of bone.

Colts

Dominic Rhodes returned to practice five hours after dislocating his left shoulder in the morning workout.

Rhodes, who rushed for 1,104 yards last season mostly while filling in for the injured Edgerrin James, was hurt when he tried to use his hands to brace himself after diving for a pass.

Cowboys

Defensive end Peppi Zellner has a strained left groin and could be sidelined up to four weeks, and offensive tackle Flozell Adams could be out even longer with a knee sprain.

Adams and Zellner could miss the rest of training camp and the Sept. 8 season opener at Houston.

After an MRI on Tuesday, doctors determined that Adams, the team’s franchise player, will be out 4-to-6 weeks. Initially, Adams was expected to miss the rest of this week.

Dolphins

After a morning trip to his doctor in Pittsburgh, QB Jay Fiedler was back at training camp for afternoon practice. Fiedler underwent surgery to repair a tear in his left hip joint July 13. He has been throwing on the side but had missed all contact work since camp started July 29.

Barring a setback, he’ll start the Dolphins’ first exhibition game Monday at Tampa Bay.

Bills

Offensive guard Ruben Brown, nursing a sprained left knee, is expected to miss the preseason opener against Cincinnati on Friday.

“Ruben is progressing real well, but it’s doubtful that he’ll play,” coach Gregg Williams said Wednesday of the six-time Pro Bowl selection, out since an Aug. 2 practice session.

Williams added that defensive end Kendrick Office (concussion) also will miss Friday’s game against the Bengals.

Giants

Halfback Tiki Barber probably will miss the preseason game against the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Saturday after straining rib cartilage during practice.

Barber took a handoff from Kerry Collins shortly after the team finished warmups Wednesday and pulled up suddenly, holding his right side. He was examined by trainers and taken off the field on a golf cart. He’s expected to miss 7-to-10 days.