49ers' Foster won't participate in offseason program

[April 16, 2018]    San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster, who is facing a domestic-violence charge, will be absent Monday when the team starts its offseason program.

The team announced the news Sunday in a press release, attributed to CEO Jed York, general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan, that misspelled Foster's first name: "Rueben Foster will not participate in team activities as he is tending to his legal matters. As previously stated, his future with the team will be determined by the information revealed during the legal process."

On Thursday, Foster was charged with domestic violence with an allegation of inflicting great bodily injury and forcefully attempting to prevent a victim from reporting a crime. The charges stem from a February arrest after an alleged incident at a residence in Los Gatos, Calif.

Prosecutors maintain that Foster "dragged (his live-in girlfriend) by her hair, physically threw her out of the house, and punched her in the head 8 to 10 times" and that she sustained a ruptured eardrum in the attack.

Foster, 24, also was charged with possession of an assault weapon, a felony, and possession of a high-capacity magazine, a misdemeanor.

Foster, out on $75,000 bail, faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted of all charges. His plea hearing is scheduled for April 30.

The February arrest was Foster's second recent brush with the law. He also was arrested in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Jan. 12 and charged with second-degree marijuana possession. Foster was a college star at the University of Alabama.

According to the Sacramento Bee, Foster has been working out individually at the 49ers' facility since his arrests. The newspaper reported that the team is expected to continue supporting him as his case proceeds through the legal system.

Before the 2017 NFL Draft, Foster's character was questioned because of two incidents at the NFL Scouting Combine. He failed a drug test when he submitted a diluted sample, and he also was sent home from the combine due to an altercation with a hospital employee.

Foster, who was expected to be a top-10 pick, wound up being selected by San Francisco with the 31st pick. He had 72 tackles last season even though he was limited to 10 games due to injuries.

--Field Level Media

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