San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Monday the team will be patient through linebacker Reuben Foster's legal issues in a domestic violence case but stressed he won't remain on the 49ers if the team determines he hit a woman.
Lynch spoke publicly for the first time since Foster was charged with felony domestic violence on April 12 after being accused by authorities of dragging his girlfriend and punching her in the head Tarik Cohen Jersey Youth , leaving her with a ruptured eardrum.
"The gravity of these charges has not been lost on us," Lynch said. "We take it extremely seriously. We do feel like patience is the right approach right now. We're going to learn things through this legal process. I do want to be very clear, abundantly clear, that if these charges are proven true, if Reuben indeed hit this young lady, he won't be a part of our organization going forward."
The 49ers announced a few days later that Foster would not take part in the offseason program while he deals with the legal matter.
Lynch said he expects that to remain the case until something changes, meaning Foster will remain away from the team until his legal case is resolved.
Lynch said the team has been in contact with the league, which could place Foster on the commissioner's exempt list while the legal process plays out, which would keep him away from the team and off the roster.
Lynch said Foster is in contact with members of his player development staff and working out on his own during this period where he is not allowed to be part of the team.
"We miss his spirit a lot," linebacker Malcolm Smith said. "Just being around the guys. Obviously he's going through some issues and legal stuff. We definitely miss his spirit in our group."
Prosecutors said the 24-year-old Foster attacked his girlfriend in February at their Los Gatos home, leaving her bruised and with an injured eardrum.
The 28-year-old woman told responding officers that Foster dragged her by her hair Bills Game Jerseys , physically threw her out of the house, and punched her in the head eight to 10 times.
Foster was also charged with felony possession of an assault weapon after officers found a Sig Sauer 516 short-barreled rifle in his home while investigating his girlfriend's domestic violence report.
If convicted on all charges, He faces up to 11 years in prison.
"We just feel like right now that we don't have all the information," Lynch said.
"That's where we're at. Everyone looks at that and say, 'Wait, the DA has levied charges. How is that not enough information?' I would tell you that each one of these cases is unique and in this case we don't feel like we have enough information. We will wait and figure it out."
The 49ers drafted Foster 31st overall last year after questions about his health and character caused him to drop from being a possible top 10 pick.
Foster delivered on the field, ranking second on the team with 72 tackles in 10 games as a rookie and looking like a key part of San Francisco's defensive future.
Foster then was charged in January in Alabama with second-degree marijuana possession before the incident in February that led to the most recent charges.
Kirk Cousins pushed himself so hard last summer that by Washington's second regular-season game, he felt as if his body and mind aged 10 extra weeks.
This time, even though he's in a new place in Minnesota, his goal for the summer break is to make it a little less intense.
"I had treated July and August like it was game day," Cousins said Youth Terrell Edmunds Jersey , reflecting on his 2017 preparation with the Redskins.
"You have to pace yourself a little bit. Because I feel a little behind the 8-ball and am learning the offense, I do need to be in it every day, but there also needs to be a healthy balance of getting away, catching your breath and getting a change of scenery, knowing that when we come back at the end of July we still have six more weeks" before the opener.
Cousins and his ability to adapt to the Vikings have been squarely in the spotlight since he signed his unprecedented $84 million fully guaranteed three-year contract three months ago, making himself the fulcrum of this franchise that's still seeking its first Super Bowl trophy.
There have been some rough stretches, such as when he threw two interceptions during a red zone drill on Wednesday, and the defense appears predictably ahead of the offense at this stage of the 2018 team-building.
The practice time open to reporters this spring, though, has not been without sharpness or rhythm considering there's a new quarterback trying to learn it along with everyone else.
"It's a bit like drinking through a fire hose right now," Cousins said.
When he's not spending time with his wife and infant son or otherwise soaking up the vacation time from practice Youth Jessie Bates III Jersey , Cousins will have his iPad close by as he meticulously reviews his performance in organized team activities and minicamp running the plays designed by offensive coordinator John DeFilippo.
"I was pleasantly surprised with the rapport. There was a fair amount of carry-over from what I've done in the past, so that was a good first step," Cousins said. "Whenever I did suggest something, he's just been a great listener. He's been a great communicator, and I love his passion for the game."
Coach Mike Zimmer sounded more than pleased by the hire he made, his third offensive coordinator in the past three seasons.
"It's really been seamless," Zimmer said.
DeFilippo offered a similar assessment of his supervision of Cousins, describing his work against the defense in a blitz-heavy portion of practice on Wednesday.
"He did some subtle things that tell you he's really understanding the little intricacies of what we're trying to accomplish," DeFilippo said.
Cousins, of course, is not the only one with summer homework. Mike Remmers spent most of the time in the spring at right guard Cheap Geron Christian Jersey , with Rashod Hill taking his place at right tackle, so there's still room for him to learn a new spot.
Terence Newman was playing some safety this week next to Harrison Smith, with Andrew Sendejo held out because of an undisclosed injury. Then there's rookie cornerback Mike Hughes, who has made a strong first impression but must continue his development at the nickel spot by studying the nuances of a difficult position.
So the break has begun, with rookies scheduled to report for training camp on July 24 and the rest of the squad due in three days later.
"Pretty much the same thing I always tell them this time of year: Keep working, make sure they come back in not just jogging shape but in shape to plant, drive and break and get in and out of stances and things like that," Zimmer said. "Make sure the good citizens take care of each other."
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