The 49ers promptly waived Foster after he proved to continually show poor judgment in his off-the-field decisions. The Washington Redskins ended up claiming Foster off of waivers and the charges against the linebacker were dismissed on January 3.
While Foster will not be forced to miss playing time, the NFL is fining him two game checks, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The NFL issued the following statement:
"Today, the NFL notified Reuben Foster of the Washington Redskins that he will be fined two game checks following a review of recent incidents and an assessment of his adherence to obligations arising from previous violations of league policies. Following a thorough investigation, the evidence did not support a finding that Foster violated the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy in connection with the Tampa incident in November 2018. The NFL has returned Foster to the active roster from the Commissioner Exempt list. He may fully participate in all team activities."
The statement goes on to say that any future incidents involving Foster will likely result in more substantial discipline.
Foster said the following via a statement:
"I am grateful to the Washington Redskins and the NFL for giving me this second chance. I appreciate the support I have received from the league, my team, and my union to help me succeed. I want to thank Commissioner Goodell for the time that he has spent with me and for his understanding of me as a person. I accept the NFL's decision and want to say that I am truly sorry for my past actions and the people who may have been hurt by them. Going forward, I will follow the plan outlined for me and work hard to earn back the trust of my teammates, the NFL, NFL fans, and the community. I know that my success is all up to me, and I am committed to not letting you down."
Meanwhile, the 49ers have moved on by signing former Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander to replace Foster on the defense. Alexander, who is coming off of an ACL injury, was rewarded with a four-year deal worth up to $54 million.
"There was a huge void there," general manager John Lynch said in March. "We had drafted Reuben in our first draft thinking, 'Wow, this is the answer right here,' at an extremely important position in our scheme ... Things didn't work out, and so you have to own that, and then move forward. We had a void there, and we needed to fill it."
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Two local wideouts among expected attendees at 49ers local pro day
The San Francisco 49ers traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders this offseason. Brandon Aiyuk is recovering from ACL and MCL injuries, casting doubt on his availability for Week 1. With Jauan Jennings and rookie Ricky Pearsall currently leading the depth... -
Projection of Early Return of 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk Continues to Gain Traction
The big story of the 2024 pre-season in San Francisco was the long, arduous contract negotiation involving 49ers' star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. By the beginning of the regular season, his contract was done, but the drama continued. Aiyuk was viewed by some 49er fans... -
Kyle Shanahan Sees Tight End Luke Farrell As Prime 49ers Roster Asset
There are certainly other higher-profile roster moves taking place in San Francisco these days, but one of the lesser talked about changes may have a bigger impact on the 49ers' offense this year than some might expect. Three weeks ago, the 49ers signed free-agent tight end... -
Mock draft roundup: PFF, TDN, CBS Sports, and The 33rd Team project 49ers' moves
Mock draft season is in full swing, and several top news and analysis outlets have released their latest projections for the 2025 NFL Draft. Among them are Pro Football Focus (PFF), The Draft Network (TDN), CBS Sports, and The 33rd Team. Here's a look at what these analysts...