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Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster won’t be suspended by NFL

By Ian Cummings

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the field prior to their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: Reuben Foster #56 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the field prior to their NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Redskins draft plans hinged, in part, on an announcement that hadn’t been made yet. Now, they have certainty.

The Washington Redskins took a risk during the 2018 season. When the San Francisco 49ers released linebacker Reuben Foster, in light of assault allegations, the Redskins were the only team in the NFL to submit a waiver claim for him.

The move, directed by Bruce Allen but ultimately pinned on Doug Williams, was met with fierce criticism, and while it was unclear at the time whether Foster was guilty or innocent, many contended that Foster was un-signable while the charges were still in the air.

Yet, Foster was signed. And Foster remained on the NFL’s commissioner exempt list for the remainder of the 2018 season, and the start of the 2019 offseason. For a long while, his situation appeared to be in limbo, and it was theorized that, even after he was cleared of charges, he would still face a suspension. Those theories were put to rest today, however, when the NFL announced that Foster would only be fined. J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Mid-Atlantic first reported the news.

For now, Foster is cleared to play football. But it’s up to him to put his checkered past behind him and put his best foot forward with this new opportunity. If Foster takes hold of this chance, he has the talent to start, and maintain a starting slot in the Redskins defense. And with several former Alabama teammates around him, he has a support system in place to thrive. But it’s up to the coaches to keep him upright, and ultimately up to Foster himself to move forward.

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With Foster cleared to play for the entire 2019 season, the Redskins’ draft needs shift slightly. Before the announcement, it was theorized that they’d potentially be in the market for a linebacker early on in the NFL Draft. Now, however, with Foster in tow, and promising second-year player Shaun Dion Hamilton heading into the offseason fully healthy, the Redskins can put that position on the back burner, and prioritize other, more pass-impactful defensive positions, like defensive back and edge rusher.

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