Reuben Foster’s fifth-year option declined by Redskins

The Washington Redskins declined the fifth-year option for linebacker Reuben Foster, according to multiple reports. 

Foster, 26, has not appeared in a game for the Redskins in the two years since Washington claimed him off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, days after a domestic violence arrest — a move that sparked heavy backlash toward the franchise. Charges were later dropped. 

The Redskins had planned for Foster to contribute in 2019, but the linebacker suffered a significant knee injury last May on the first day of OTAs. Foster also did not see the field for Washington in 2018 as the NFL placed him on the Commissioner’s Exempt list upon his signing. 

With the 49ers, Foster showed promise when on the field. The former first-rounder had a strong rookie season, recording 79 tackles in 10 games in 2017. However, he was released in San Francisco following a series of off the field issues. 

Picking up his option would have kept him under contract for 2021. 

“As far as Reuben Foster is concerned, you know he’s done a great job when he was around, when I was around actually, when I was able to see him,” coach Ron Rivera said earlier this month. “It looked good, it looked like he was working his way back, and again the one thing that we’re doing right now is we’re not counting on anybody yet because we haven’t had a chance to watch them, we don’t know.”