NFL hits 49ers’ Foster with 2-game suspension

SANTA CLARA – Linebacker Reuben Foster expressed humility and accepted a two-game suspension Tuesday for the 49ers upcoming season, a punishment traced to two offseason arrests that initially put his career in jeopardy.

The NFL, as announced by the 49ers, suspended Foster without pay for violating its personal conduct and substance-abuse policies because of a weapons offense and misdemeanor drug possession. That statement had no mention of Foster’s domestic-violence charges that were dropped May 23 after his accuser, an ex-girlfriend, testified to falsifying her initial claims.

Foster did not appeal that twogame banishment, according to his agent, and thus will miss the Sept. 9 season opener at the Minnesota Vikings and the Sept. 16 home opener against the Detroit Lions.

“I accept the league’s decision and am sorry that my mistakes have hurt my team,” Foster said in a team-issued statement. “I have a responsibility to the 49ers, our fans and our community, and I am committed to learning from this situation and making better choices in the future.

“The support I have received over the last five months has been humbling, and I do not take it for granted.”

Foster, a first-round draft pick last year out of Alabama, also drew an unspecified fine for violating the league’s substanceabuse policy. He was arrested in January for second-degree marijuana possession in his former