BEREA, Ohio — D’Qwell Jackson turned and looked at the empty chair in front of Scott Fujita’s locker, where his good friend and teammate would normally sit after practice.
Fujita wasn’t there. He might be gone for good.
The forthright Fujita, one of the league’s most informed players, will be placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, ending his stormy season — and perhaps his football career.
One of four players suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his role in the New Orleans Saints’ bounty scandal, Fujita was inactive for Cleveland’s past two games. He last started on Oct. 7 against the New York Giants in what may have been his final game as a pro.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur spoke with Fujita before practice, but he does not know if the 11-year veteran will retire.
At the very least, Fujita’s season is over.
“It’s tough, man,” said Jackson, who started at linebacker alongside Fujita. “Just having him around the building, his personality and the guy that he is, it’s a loss for all of us.”
The 33-year-old Fujita underwent neck surgery in college. Jackson said one of his closest friends is having to contemplate not playing again.
“Anytime you get to that point of your career, ideally everyone in this locker room, we’re all taking notes, we want to retire and not because of injury,” Jackson said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow.”
Fujita was not available for interviews. He was at the team’s facility earlier in the day, but had left by the time the locker room was open to reporters. The Browns have not officially made a roster move with Fujita, but Shurmur said it will happen.
Fujita’s season has been marred by injuries and the suspension. He has always maintained his innocence from the pay-for-hits program, and Goodell recently reduced Fujita’s three-game suspension to one. However, Fujita was angered by a letter he received from the commissioner and harshly criticized Goodell for “abuse of power” in handling the Saints’ situation. Fujita also questioned the commissioner’s track record on player safety, saying he has done more to help his peers through his activities as an executive council member for the NFL Players’ Association.
It’s not yet known if Fujita will continue to fight to clear his name. He signed with the Browns as a free agent in 2010 after spending four seasons with the Saints. Fujita played just 23 of a possible 39 games with the Browns because of injuries.
Cowboys lose leading tackler Sean Lee to injury
IRVING, Texas —Linebacker Sean Lee, the leading tackler for the Dallas Cowboys, has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season because of a right big toe injury.
Coach Jason Garrett said Wednesday an MRI showed ligament damage that will require surgery in the next week or so, ending hopes of Lee returning in four to six weeks.
Lee also calls the defensive signals for the Cowboys. The Cowboys have signed veteran linebacker Ernie Sims, who played 13 games last year for Indianapolis.
Dan Connor, a free agent addition in the offseason, took most of Lee’s playing time in the second half of last week’s 19-14 win at Carolina. Connor is listed as a starter alongside Bruce Carter in the middle of the Dallas defense, with Sims backing up Connor.
The Cowboys moved up in the draft to take Lee in the second round out of Penn State in 2010. He started 15 games last year, finishing with 105 tackles and tying for the team lead with four interceptions. He had 58 tackles in six games this year and another interception.
Jets’ Ryan: Dolphins’ Bush should apologize
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Rex Ryan already said he’s sorry. He thinks it’s about time Reggie Bush did, too.
The New York Jets coach is still bothered by the Miami Dolphins running back’s comments a few weeks ago that Darrelle Revis’ season-ending knee injury was a case of “what goes around comes around.”
Ryan drew the ire of the Dolphins star when the coach said the Jets were going to put “hot sauce” — saying he meant lots of attention, not an intent to injure — on Bush before New York’s 23-20 overtime win last month. Bush hurt his left knee in the game, and later implied it was karma that Revis also hurt his knee and was lost for the season.
“I apologized for my comment,” Ryan said Wednesday. “I expect him to do the same.”
Redskins linebacker Fletcher’s 231-game streak at risk
ASHBURN, Va. — London Fletcher’s 15-season, never-missed-a-game streak appears in jeopardy because of a sore hamstring and a balance problem that had him scheduled to see a pair of doctors.
The Washington Redskins linebacker attended practice Wednesday but did not participate. He limped off the field wearing a baseball cap, telling reporters “I did what I could” before leaving for appointments with both the Redskins team doctor as well as the same neurologist who evaluated Robert Griffin III’s concussion earlier this season.
Fletcher hurt his right hamstring in the second half of Sunday’s 27-23 loss to the New York Giants. Coach Mike Shanahan said Fletcher then reported having balance issues on Monday, unrelated to the hamstring injury.
Fletcher, 37, has played in 231 consecutive games since entering the league as an undrafted rookie with the St. Louis Rams in 1998. It’s the longest streak among active players and the second longest for any defensive player since the 1970 merger. Fletcher and Ronde Barber are usually tied atop the active list, but Fletcher moved one ahead of the veteran safety earlier this month when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had their bye week.
Broncos linebacker DJ Williams sentenced to house arrest
DENVER — Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams will serve 30 days under home arrest for driving under the influence but not until after the season.
Williams was sentenced Wednesday but a judge said he didn’t have to start serving it until Feb. 7, 2013. Prosecutors had asked that Williams serve a month behind bars.
Besides the home arrest, during which time he’ll have to wear an ankle monitor, Williams also must serve two years of probation, have his sobriety monitored and attend alcohol education classes and therapy, all standard punishments for second-time offenders. He also must perform 56 hours of community service and pay $2,390 in court costs.
Williams is serving an NFL-mandated three-game suspension over his August conviction for driving while ability impaired. This is on top of the six-game suspension he just completed for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Seattle without wide receiver Baldwin vs. Detroit
RENTON, Wash. — Doug Baldwin, the Seattle Seahawks’ leading receiver a season ago as a rookie, will miss Sunday’s game at Detroit with a high ankle sprain.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Baldwin would not play against the Lions after suffering the injury last Thursday against San Francisco, continuing a season of ailments for the second-year receiver.
Charly Martin is likely to take Baldwin’s spot, although other receivers such as Golden Tate could work in the slot as well for Seattle.
Panthers to place Beason on injured reserve
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Panthers coach Ron Rivera says three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jon Beason has been placed on injured reserve with knee and shoulder issues.
Beason will have surgery next week on his left knee.
The Panthers have claimed cornerback James Dockery off waivers from Cleveland to replace Beason on the roster. Dockery joined the Panthers at practice.
These are tough times for the Panthers. In the past two weeks, they’ve lost center Ryan Kalil, cornerback Chris Gamble and Beason to season-ending injuries, and general manager Marty Hurney was fired.
Rivera says Luke Kuechly, the team’s first-round draft pick, will continue to fill in at middle linebacker.
Lions sign Robiskie, put Burleson on IR
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions are counting on three players to make up for the loss of receiver Nate Burleson.
Second-year pro Titus Young and rookie Ryan Broyles took a big step up the depth chart at receiver. And tight end Tony Scheffler should get more chances to catch passes from the slot.
Detroit added depth by signing former Cleveland Browns receiver Brian Robiskie when it placed Burleson on injured reserve with a broken right leg.
