NFL notebook: Redskins claim LB Foster off waivers

Linebacker Reuben Foster, who was waived by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, has been claimed by the Washington Redskins, the team announced Tuesday. Foster has a charge of misdemeanor domestic violence pending as the result of an alleged incident on Saturday. Foster will not be permitted to practice or play in games for the Redskins until further notice because the NFL placed him on the Commissioner's Exempt List while the league reviews his arrest. Washington's senior vice president of player personnel Doug Williams released a lengthy statement on the addition of Foster: "Today we have claimed the rights to LB Reuben Foster. The Redskins fully understand the severity of the recent allegations made against Reuben. If true, you can be sure these allegations are nothing our organization would ever condone. Let me be clear, Reuben will have to go through numerous steps including the full legal process, an investigation and potential discipline from the NFL, as well as meetings with counselors associated with the team before he will ever have the opportunity to wear the Burgundy and Gold as a player. "That being said, we decided to investigate the situation with Reuben further by claiming his rights after candid conversations with a number of his ex-Alabama teammates and current Redskins players who were overwhelmingly supportive of us taking this chance. Nothing is promised to Reuben, but we are hopeful being around so many of his former teammates and friends will eventually provide him with the best possible environment to succeed both personally and professionally." If charges are filed, a suspension could be imposed. --Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette has been suspended for one game without pay following his ejection for fighting with Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson, the NFL announced. The league said that Fournette violated its unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules during the Jaguars' 24-21 setback to the Bills on Sunday. He will miss Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field. Fournette is expected to appeal the ban following his fracas with Lawson, who was also ejected from the game -- but not suspended by the league. --Jameis Winston reached a settlement with the Uber driver who accused the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback of groping her in 2016, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The lawsuit stated that the plaintiff -- identified only as "Kate P." -- was seeking in excess of $75,000 because of the "damages in the nature of emotional distress and future therapy expenses." The incident resulted in an eight-month-long NFL investigation, which concluded that the 24-year-old Winston was involved in detrimental conduct by "touching the driver in an inappropriate and sexual manner without her consent and that disciplinary action was necessary and appropriate." Winston, who was the top overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers, served a three-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league's personal conduct policy. --The Carolina Panthers announced they placed Damiere Byrd on injured reserve after the wide receiver/kick returner sustained a broken arm in the team's last game. Byrd was injured in Sunday's 30-27 setback to the Seattle Seahawks. Carolina also has signed cornerback Lorenzo Doss to the active roster from the practice squad, and signed cornerback Josh Thornton to the practice squad Byrd, who has just one reception for eight yards this season, has played a significantly larger role on special teams. The 25-year-old has averaged 9.4 yards on 11 punt returns this season. --Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson is seeking a second opinion on his nagging thumb injury. Jackson had his injury examined by a local specialist before heading to New York to receive a second opinion, coach Dirk Koetter said, via the Tampa Bay Times. The 31-year-old Jackson had a brace on his left hand during practice last week, but still managed to play 36 snaps in Sunday's 27-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers. The three-time Pro Bowl selection finished with three catches for 19 yards despite being targeted eight times. --Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith might not be available when the Cowboys face the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said that Smith would not practice because of a neck injury, and Garrett expects his availability for Thursday to be a game-day decision. --San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jimmie Ward was placed on injured reserve, the team announced. A broken forearm ended Ward's season for the second straight year. His rookie contract expires after this season, making him a free agent in March. Ward played in nine games this season and made seven starts. He did not have any interceptions and had 24 total tackles. Last season, he played in seven games with six starts and recorded 32 total tackles. The 49ers also announced they have claimed defensive back Godwin Igwebuike off waivers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. --Washington Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger took aim at his own teammates during a recent radio interview. Swearinger said Monday on 106.7 The Fan that he's getting tired of the way his teammates practice. He even went so far as to say that some of the players are too casual with their attitude. "I just feel like when we're in certain preparations -- when it's Friday, when it's Saturday, when it's time to lock in and really be focused in -- I feel like it's a little bit too much playing," the 27-year-old Swearinger said, via the Washington Post. "Whether it's on Friday or whether it's the Saturday walkthrough. A lot of guys just walk through that Saturday as if that Saturday doesn't mean much. But truth be told, that Saturday means a lot. If you're a focused individual, every time that you step on the practice field -- whether it's a walkthrough, whether it's a real practice -- any time the coach is saying something, that means business. "When we have our walkthroughs on Saturdays, I feel like it's a joke, to me -- with the amount of focus that we have, with the amount of playing that we have, the amount of lack of discipline that we have on those Saturdays and Fridays, on days where I feel like we should be tuned in. That's where those comments come in."