By Chris Biderman
The Sacramento Bee (TNS)
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Reuben Foster’s 2019 season ended after just one practice rep.
The former 49ers linebacker and former Alabama player sustained a season-ending ACL tear, as first reported by NFL Media, during his first play of offseason team activities Monday with Washington.
Washington, of course, claimed Foster just days after he was released by San Francisco last November following his second arrest relating to domestic violence allegations involving his on-again, off-again girlfriend. The 2017 first-round draft pick was immediately placed on the commissioner’s exempt list while the league looked into his arrest.
Charges were dropped and Foster was fined two game checks by the league with no suspension, allowing him to practice with his new team for the first time during the offseason program.
“It’s very concerning, for sure,” coach Jay Gruden told reporters Monday, according to the Washington Post. “We will have to wait and see before I get too emotional about it.”
The 49ers replaced Foster at “Will” linebacker this offseason by signing free agent Kwon Alexander to a four-year, $54 million contract that included $14.25 million guaranteed at signing. The team also used a fifth-round draft pick on Arkansas’ Dre Greenlaw.
Alexander suffered an ACL tear last October and the time frame for his return remains unclear. The 49ers also started their OTA practices this week. Elijah Lee, who replaced Foster after his release in 2018, is expected to get the starting reps alongside promising second-year pro Fred Warner. Other 49ers linebackers of note are veterans Malcolm Smith and David Mayo, who signed this offseason after spending his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers.
