Second-year linebacker Reuben Foster has not been the same impressive player San Francisco 49ers fans witnessed during his rookie campaign last year. Missed tackles have plagued him. He has 12 this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Foster has also been a liability in pass coverage. Opposing quarterbacks have targeted him 27 times and completed 20 of those passes for 228 yards with two touchdowns and an impressive passer rating of 123.7.
Foster admitted to reporters on Thursday that he has been dealing with a right-shoulder injury, which he believes is impacting his play. It's the same shoulder that required surgery following Alabama's 2016 season to repair a torn rotator cuff.
"It was just tweaked, probably fluid, and something you have to continue to rehab," Foster said via Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group.
While a recent MRI revealed no structural damage, the star linebacker seems willing to endure the injury if it means helping his teammates.
"I just do it for my team," Foster said via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I don't think nothing of it."
The linebacker also doesn't anticipate a need for surgery during or after the season.
"It doesn't go numb. It's a sharp pain that goes on and off," Foster added. "I want to stay out there the whole time. I listen to my coaches and trainer. Whatever they decide for me, I know it's best."
Robert Saleh knows that injuries may simply come with the way Foster plays the game. The 49ers defensive coordinator said Foster had his best practice of the year on Wednesday.
"There will be days when he's fresh and he's running and hitting, but there's some days where he's going to hit somebody so hard that he kind of hurts himself," Saleh told reporters. "I don't think it's going to stop him. But, at the same time, I'm really not concerned with Reuben and him being an injury guy. He plays the game so hard and so violently that sometimes accidents happen. But, he'll stand up, he'll play the next play."
