Washington Redskins Claim Reuben Foster Off Waivers
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Less than a week after he was cut by the San Francisco 49ers after being arrested on a domestic violence charge, former first-round pick Reuben Foster was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Washington Redskins.
It is still unclear if Foster, who missed the first two games of the 2018 season while serving a suspension for violating league conduct and substance abuse policies, is facing further disciplinary action from the NFL.
Foster was cut by the 49ers Sunday, hours after he was arrested at the team's hotel in Tampa on a domestic violence charge.
"He was really taking some very positive steps and maturing in a really nice fashion," general manager John Lynch told reporters before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Unfortunately in life there's consequences for your actions. When you show bad judgment, particularly after something has been communicated very clearly what the expectations are, there are consequences."
Foster was booked into Hillsborough County jail at 11:11 p.m. Saturday and released after posting bail on Sunday.
Tampa Police spokeswoman Janelle McGregor said a woman told police Foster slapped her phone out of her hand, pushed her in the chest area and slapped her with an open hand on the right side of her face. Officers observed a one-inch scratch on the accuser's left collarbone.
McGregor said officers learned that Foster had lived with the woman in the past and had been involved in an on-and-off relationship with her over the past three years. Police didn't say whether it was the same woman who accused Foster of hitting her in February but later recanted the allegations.
RELATED: Read Criminal Complaint Filed Against Reuben Foster
Foster has struggled on the field this season as well as he has dealt with shoulder and hamstring injuries. He had missed the past two games with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday with the injury.
Foster has 29 tackles in six games this season with no sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries or interceptions. He has also missed 10 tackles in six games, according to SportRadar, and has the second highest rate of missed tackles among any linebacker with at least 200 snaps on defense.
The 24-year-old has had several legal issues since he was the team's first round draft pick out of Alabama in 2017. He served a two-game suspension to start the 2018 season for violating the NFL's conduct and substance abuse policies.
The suspension came in the wake of weapons possession and a misdemeanor drug charges, both of which were resolved earlier this year.
Foster was charged in January in Alabama with second-degree marijuana possession. That charge was eventually dismissed after he completed a first-time offender diversion course.
He then faced more serious charges for an incident in the Bay Area in February. He was initially charged in April with felonies for domestic violence, making criminal threats and weapons possession after being accused of beating up his ex-girlfriend Ennis.
A judge ruled there was no probable cause on the first two charges after Ennis recanted the allegations and the judge found no other evidence to support the charges.
At the time, the Santa County District Attorney's office said it was disappointed the charges had been dismissed.
"We are disappointed because the evidence demonstrated that Mr. Foster seriously hurt his girlfriend," the office said in the statement. "Some have wondered why we still think Mr. Foster hurt his girlfriend when she said that he didn't. Recantation is common among domestic violence victims . . . we move forward on cases when victims falsely recant because we know that if we don't more victims will be hurt."
Meanwhile, the weapons charge was reduced to a misdemeanor and Foster pleaded no-contest to that in June.
He was sentenced to two years' probation, 232 hours of community service, and $235 in fines. He will not be allowed to own guns while he's on probation.
The 49ers drafted Foster 31st overall last year after questions about his health and character caused him to drop from being a possible top 10 pick.
He made nine starts in his break out rookie season, registering 72 tackles, which ranked second on the team, and one pass defensed. He earned the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month Award for the month of November after picking up 30 tackles in three starts.
© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
