On the first day of OTAs for the Washington Redskins, a potentially detrimental injury left a gaping hole in the defensive front seven.
Reuben Foster, who was controversially signed by the team midway through the 2018 season, went down with an apparent leg injury that left him in tears and pounding his fists on the ground.
The injury is undoubtedly a gut-punch to the Redskins, especially when they had seemingly been putting the right pieces into place to make a legitimate run at being good this year. As with many injuries in the NFL, we’re all left with many unknowns, and many unanswered questions going forward.
What will the Redskins do at the ILB position?
Washington was projected to start Foster at inside linebacker alongside Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mason Foster. The team is still waiting on results from the MRI, but there will likely be a noted shift in the defensive depth chart.
Josh Harvey-Clemons and Cole Holcomb are currently listed behind Foster on the depth chart, but there is also a possibility that the Redksins look to the remaining list of free agents to find someone for relatively cheap. Here are a couple of names that Washington might kick the tires on:
- Josh Bynes, 30 (Formerly of Arizona)
- D.J. Alexander, 27 (Formerly of Philadelphia)
- Manti Te’o, 28 (Formerly of New Orleans)
It should also be noted that ILB Zach Brown was cut by the Redskins this year. He went on to sign a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
How will Foster’s injury affect finances?
In 2018, Foster signed a three-year, $3.8 million contract with the Redskins after being released by the San Francisco 49ers, due to allegations of a domestic violence abuse case that has followed Foster for much of his career. Earlier this offseason, Foster avoided a suspension from the league but was fined two game checks worth approximately $151,340 of his $1.2 million salary.
It’s possible the Redskins look at Foster’s injury and choose to stick with him through the rehab process, placing him on the IR or PUP list where they would have to pay out the rest of his salary for as long as he’s with the team. However, the team could also choose to cut ties altogether and end the Reuben Foster era in Washington before it could even begin.
What’s next for Foster?
This is tough to say because Foster’s fate could go either way. On one hand, he is a 25-year-old linebacker who has shown promise and skill in the NFL. On the other hand, Foster has a messy history that has frequently found him in trouble with the law and suspended from the league due to continued allegations of domestic violence against a longtime girlfriend.
This also is not the first injury that Foster has suffered in his career, though it is likely the most devastating. During his career, Foster has missed a handful of games on different occasions, stemming from shoulder, hamstring and ankle injuries. That, coupled with the off-field drama he is sure to bring, make the chances that Foster finds himself on another NFL roster in 1-2 years’ time grim.
If Reuben is a smart man, he had better start professing his love for the Cleveland Browns as soon as possible.
