Foster back into flow of practices
SANTA CLARA » Reuben Foster moved from drill to drill Wednesday with familiar fluidity — and a reputation to repair.
It was a contrasting sight from watching Foster go in and out of a San Jose courtroom the past two months, a saga in which domestic-violence charges got dropped last week and all that remains is a misdemeanor weapons charge.
The 49ers are thrilled to have Foster back with them, even if he’s currently limited to work on the outskirts of their practice field while revving up his conditioning to eventually join team drills.
“He’s in a good spot right now. He’s been through a lot,” said 49ers assistant Johnny Holland, Foster’s linebackers coach last year and now their run-game specialist.
Foster hasn’t spoken with the media and likely won’t until the June 12-14 minicamp. He’s in no rush to discuss his two offseason arrests; a marijuana-possession case got dismissed in Alabama on Friday.
Defensive coaches got to work Wednesday at speaking up on Foster’s behalf and remaking a reputation that took a hit outside the 49ers walls.
“Reuben has an infectious personality. He has a glow about himself,” Holland began. “He’s very likable.
“He tries to do things right, and somehow he gets caught sometimes doing the wrong things. It sometimes follows guys like that,” Holland added. “Reuben has to identify himself that, ‘I have to make good decisions.’ This isn’t college football, high school football or college football. Your identity is known. People know what you do. And you’re not going to get away with stuff.”
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Foster reported back last Thursday in great shape.
“We’re all excited. The whole organization matches his enthusiasm,” Saleh said. “It’s not just because of Reuben the player but Reuben the person. For people who don’t know him and who don’t have the privilege to know him, they don’t really understand what a great human being he actually is.”
• Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas admirably kept his emotions in check during a 15-minute interview after practice regarding his sister, Ella, who committed suicide Jan. 23 in their hometown of Coppell, Texas. The Stanford product says he will honor more than his sister Saturday by joining family and friends in Dallas for a walk that benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“I’m also walking all the people who suffer around the world,” Thomas said. “It’s really easy to fake a smile and put on a face. It’s real easy to tell someone you’re fine. But it’s hard to tell someone how you actually feel.”
Thomas said his sister battled depression the past couple years and that mental health is a topic that should be more openly discussed. He said it “meant the world” at his sister’s funeral for him and his family to see a 49ers contingent including CEO Jed York, GM John Lynch, kicker Robbie Gould and linebacker Elvis Dumervil.
“Football has been therapeutic for me. I love the sport,” Thomas added. “But it’s been more about being around the team. That’s helped me the most, being around the guys and feeling the love around me.”
• Defensive lineman Arik Armstead is among seven players still on the 49ers who knelt during the national anthem last season, and he said the 49ers haven’t broached the NFL’s new policy mandating players stand and be respectful during the anthem.
“There are a lot of mixed emotions on the topic,” Armstead said. “You’ve got to sit down and really think about it for yourself personally. But Jed has been good in supporting us, so that’s been awesome.” York recused himself from last Wednesday’s vote among owners regarding an anthem policy.
• While lining up at left cornerback — Richard Sherman’s projected home — Jimmie Ward showed encouraging results. After allowing a 40-yard catch to Kendrick Bourne, Ward responded by nearly intercepting and at least breaking up a similar pass to Marquise Goodwin, and Ward later defended a Jimmy Garoppolo pass toward Pierre Garçon in the end zone.
“He just has to get comfortable and get reps,” secondary coach Jeff Hafley said.
• The 49ers’ work on redzone offense revealed a couple clues how they might improve there this season. First, Garoppolo completed multiple, would-be touchdown passes to tight ends Garrett Celek and George Kittle. Second, Garoppolo’s ability to throw receivers open is an asset, as evident by how he led Aaron Burbridge to the back corner of the end zone for a TD catch.