Redskins Claim LB Reuben Foster Off Waivers

Update:

Tom Pelissero reports that the Redskins were the only to place a waiver claim for LB Reuben Foster.

Redskins executive VP Doug Williams released the following statement regarding the decision to claim LB Reuben Foster:

“Today we have claimed the rights to LB Reuben Foster. The Redskins fully understand the severity of the recent allegations made against Reuben. If true, you can be sure these allegations are nothing our organization would ever condone. Let me be clear, Reuben will have to go through numerous steps including the full legal process, an investigation and potential discipline from the NFL, as well as meetings with counselors associated with the team before he will ever have the opportunity to wear the Burgundy and Gold as a player.  That being said, we decided to investigate the situation with Reuben further by claiming his rights after candid conversations with a number of his ex-Alabama teammates and current Redskins players who were overwhelmingly supportive of us taking this chance. Nothing is promised to Reuben, but we are hopeful being around so many of his former teammates and friends will eventually provide him with the best possible environment to succeed both personally and professionally.”

Adam Schefter reports that the Redskins have claimed LB Reuben Foster off waivers from the 49ers on Tuesday.

Schefter initially reported that the Browns had claimed Foster, but later corrected his report saying that an undisclosed team has claimed the former first-round pick.

This comes as a surprise, given that Foster was just recently arrested for another domestic violence incident. Foster could be facing discipline from the NFL, so it remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to play.

An arrest report from the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff’s office says that Foster was booked into jail at 11:11 pm ET on a first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence charge after being arrested by Tampa police at 9:10 pm at the Grand Hyatt hotel, where the 49ers were staying before playing their game against the Buccaneers.

The victim told police that she got into a verbal altercation with Foster and he 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.

Police found that she had a one-inch scratch on her left collarbone.

According to police, Foster and the victim lived together in the past and were involved in an on-again-off-again relationship over the past three years.

Foster has had multiple off-the-field issues since entering the NFL including a second-degree marijuana possession and a domestic violence incident involving his ex-girlfriend, who later recanted the allegations against him and the judge found no other evidence to support the charges.

Foster, 24, is a former first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2017. He was in the second year of his four-year, $9.03 million contract and set to make base salaries of $875,708 and $1.28 million over the next two years of the agreement when the 49ers waived him on Monday.

The contract includes a fifth-year option for the Redskins to pick up in 2020.

In 2018, Foster has appeared in six games for the 49ers and recorded 29 tackles and a pass defense.