Examining all scenarios for Reuben Foster’s 2020 season with Washington
Foster starts the year on the PUP list
I would classify this as the most likely outcome for Foster. At this point, it’s unclear exactly when and if he will take the field this year. But given that the coaching staff seems to be counting on him being available, it stands to reason that he should be around at some point.
Throughout this offseason, Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio have spoken about getting Foster ready for action. But more than anything else, the coaching staff have focused on getting him mental reps so that when he is cleared, he can return to the field.
In fact, as detailed by Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic, linebackers coach Steve Russ explained how Foster was using Zoom to get mental reps while rehabbing.
Steve Russ wants to get Reuben Foster ready mentally and physically. He said when they were out there today, Foster was mentally putting himself out there. He says when they're on Zoom, Foster will put him on mute and he'll map out what's supposed to be happening on the play.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) August 4, 2020
That’s certainly one way to do things. It’s smart for Foster to stay sharp in this way so he can get on the field quickly once he’s cleared. And Russ seems to be planning on having Foster even if it isn’t to start the season off.
So, all told, it seems likely that Foster isn’t quite ready to go. But perhaps after a six-game stint on the PUP list, he’ll be ready to contribute.
Given that Washington isn’t expected to be very competitive this season, they can afford to take time and get Foster fully healthy before throwing him back into the fire. Then, knowing that he’s 100 percent, they can use the games he plays to evaluate whether or not they want to bring him back in 2021.
This situation would be fine for Washington. Sure, it’s not as great as having him for the whole season. But getting to see what Foster in action is surely better than seeing him miss another season.