San Francisco 49ers: 5 burning questions in 2018

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 29: A detailed view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet is seen resting on a bench post during the NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 29, 2017 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the San Francisco 49ers by the score of 33-10. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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3. How reliable is Reuben Foster?

In the 2017 NFL Draft, San Francisco traded up to snag Foster when he was still on the board at pick 31. It was deemed a risky pick due to character concerns and a litany of shoulder issues that would follow him for the rest of his career. Despite the question marks surrounding Foster as a prospect, the team took the chance on the former Butkus Award winner (best collegiate linebacker).

In his first game as a pro, Foster shined early, but went down with a gnarly looking ankle injury in the first quarter. That injury would sideline him for more than a month, causing him to miss five games in addition to the season opener. Foster only missed one more game, against the Eagles, but even when he was healthy, he had multiple injury scares.

In multiple games, Foster was sidelined due to “shoulder stingers” following big tackles. That is not what a coaching staff wants to see from one of the biggest leaders on defense, especially since he has an injury history with his shoulder. The defense is better with Foster on the field, it is very simple, when he is unable to play they will struggle. So it begs the question, is he truly reliable?

Not to mention his off-field struggles which included a domestic violence charge, which has since been cleared, as well as a gun charge. Consequently, Foster was suspended by the league for the first two games of the season. Immaturity was circled as a potential issue coming out of college, and in his first season in the NFL, Foster did very little to prove that claim false. Whether Foster will be able to stay on the field remains to be seen. Perhaps the team’s dependency on him will help straighten him out.