The Washington Redskins have declined to exercise their fifth-year option on linebacker Reuben Foster, according to Les Carpenter of the Washington Post.
Foster has yet to play a game with the Redskins despite being acquired by the team in November 2018. The decision may come to no surprise given his first three seasons in the NFL have been marred by a multitude of off-field issues and injuries.
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding his future after he suffered a serious knee injury in the first day of OTAs in 2019. Foster tore his ACL and LCL. As a result he also suffered nerve damage, causing him a dropfoot.
While he has regained feeling in his foot, odds are against him playing this season for the Redskins. Thus, Washington couldn’t commit such a large increase in pay for a fifth season in 2021.
It’s a tough situation for Foster as it has appeared he has put off-field issues behind him. Foster had kept a low profile after a November 2018 incident with his ex-girlfriend — that led to his release by the San Francisco 49ers — put him on the Commissioner’s exempt list after being claimed off waivers by the Redskins.
Foster was arrested and had domestic violence charges from the incident. However, those charges were dropped in 2019. Unfortunately, he was injured during the May 2019 practice that has kept him off the field.
