Washington LB Foster set for workouts after lost year
Washington activated linebacker Reuben Foster off the physically unable to perform list Sunday ahead of the start of the first on-field training camp workouts.
The 26-year-old tore the ACL in and caused additional damage to his left knee during workouts in May 2019 and missed all of last season.
Washington claimed Foster off waivers in November 2018 after he was released by San Francisco when the 49ers learned of a domestic violence incident at the team hotel. Then-washington coach Jay Gruden said there was “no guarantee” Foster ever plays for the team.
Prosecutors in January 2019 dropped a first-degree misdemeanor battery charge, citing insufficient evidence. The NFL fined Foster two game checks but did not suspend him and reinstated him to Washington’s roster after reviewing the situation.
His injury on the third play of practice in May 2019 made Gruden’s possibility seem more likely. But Washington’s new regime under Ron Rivera, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and linebackers coach Steve Russ would like to tap into the 2017 first-round draft pick’s potential.
“I really like where Reuben is,
I like his intent, I really like his focus,” Russ said. “We’re rooting for him. We are his biggest fans. I want to see him get back out there and play football. I know that’s what he loves to do. And that’s what he’s worked very, very hard to do.”
The 31st pick out of Alabama three years ago, Foster made 84 tackles in 16 games with San Francisco. Washington has been planning as though he’ll be on the field this season.
■ Vikings: Linebacker Cameron Smith said he will miss the season because of a congenital heart condition discovered only after he tested positive for COVID-19. The 23-year-old, a fifth-round draft pick in 2019, said he will undergo open-heart surgery to fix a bicuspid aortic valve, a procedure that will allow him to continue playing once healed. A four-year starter at Southern California, Smith gained All-pac-12 honors three times.
■ Rams: Defensive tackle
A’shawn Robinson is sidelined indefinitely with a nonfootball injury that is not coronavirus-related, coach Sean Mcvay said. The 25-year-old agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal in March after leaving Detroit as a free agent. The Alabama product spent his first four NFL seasons with the Lions.
■ Patriots: Cornerback Michael Jackson was acquired from Detroit for an undisclosed 2022 draft pick. The 23-year-old was a fifth-round draft pick by Dallas in 2019, and he started his career on the Cowboys’ practice squad before the Lions signed him.
■ Jaguars: Defensive tackles Brian Price (knee) and Dontavius Russell (hip) were placed on injured reserve, and two veteran free agents — defensive tackle Caraun Reid and cornerback Tramaine Brock — agreed to contracts with undisclosed terms.
■ Dolphins: Free-agent wide receiver Chester Rogers agreed to a contract with undisclosed terms. The 26-year-old started 22 games for Indianapolis in the past four seasons, catching 111 passes for 1,221 yards and five touchdowns.
■ Titans: Linebacker Vic Beasley, Tennessee’s top offseason freeagent acquisition, reported to camp and was activated off the reserve/ did not report list, and defensive end Jack Crawford was placed on the reserve/covid-19 list.
■ Bengals: Free-agent defensive end Mike Daniels agreed to a deal with undisclosed terms. The 31-year-old, who made the Pro
Bowl in 2017, played nine games for Detroit in 2019 after seven seasons with Green Bay.