Fooch’s update: Washington claimed Foster off waivers.
The San Francisco 49ers waived linebacker Reuben Foster on Monday, and on Tuesday he was claimed off waivers, per Adam Schefter. There is no word yet who the team is, but we’ll add that as soon as we know.
I really did not see that one coming. The 49ers waived Foster after he was arrested at the team hotel in Tampa on suspicion of domestic violence. The NFL has said it is reviewing the matter, but he has not been suspended at this time. His new team could either play him this weekend, deactivate him, or place him on the exempt list while the NFL decides on a potential suspension.
The arrest was Foster’s third of the year, and his second for suspicion of domestic violence. The first DV charge was eventually dismissed after the alleged victim recanted her statements. The 49ers said at the time they would wait for due process to sort itself out.
This time around, the team did not wait. Both John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan said it had to do with Foster failing to live up to expectations communicated to him after the offseason arrests. Shanahan went into extensive detail about the issues involved when he met with the media on Monday.
For now, Team X gets a chance to play him until the NFL decides on a suspension. Foster will likely face a suspension at some point, but for the time being, he will get a chance to play.