Report: Former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster working out with AFC team
Former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Reuben Foster is still vying to make a comeback in the NFL next season. Foster, who has not played in a regular season game since 2018, is reportedly set for a workout with the Miami Dolphins on Friday, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
“Per source close to team, Dolphins today are working out former Alabama All American LB Reuben Foster, the 31st overall pick in 2017 who missed 2019 and 2020 with major knee injury,” Jackson said. “Health fine now and he’s looking for comeback. Overlapped with McDaniel in SF in 2018.”
Foster was selected with the 31st overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He played in just 16 games over the course of his first two seasons in San Francisco, totaling 101 tackles with ten tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and two passes defended. In the middle of the 2018 season, the 49ers waived Foster after multiple arrests, including one for domestic violence, and he was claimed by Washington.
Foster never played a game in Washington. The team said at the time of his acquisition that Foster had a lot of work to do to see the field. Once his legal situations were resolved, he was reinstated in April of 2019. Just a month later in May, Foster tore his ACL and LCL in his first practice with Washington, ending his season. He was then activated from injured reserve in August of 2020 before he landed back on the injured reserve list a month later.
Adding Foster would add to a busy offseason for the Dolphins
Over the course of the offseason, the Dolphins have made quite a few changes. Miami added wide receiver Tyreek Hill in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, and also signed the top offensive lineman available in Terron Armstead to a five-year deal. The Dolphins have also added Cedrick Wilson, Connor Williams, Chase Edmonds, and Raheem Mostert on offense.
The Dolphins could use another linebacker, specifically someone like Foster on the interior. Adding him would likely be cheap, and at the very least would provide some depth at the position. Miami does not have a first or second round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, nor do they have a pick in the fifth or sixth round.
The Dolphins went 9-8 last season, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. Now, Miami is moving forward with new head coach Mike McDaniel.