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San Francisco 49ers: A few players critical to team’s success in 2018

By Kevin Saito

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: San Francisco 49ers fans celebrate a touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: San Francisco 49ers fans celebrate a touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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San Francisco 49ers
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Reuben Foster

Foster’s career hasn’t gotten off to the greatest of starts. He missed six games a rookie due to injury, and he’s about to miss the first two games of his sophomore campaign for off-the-field issues. In the span of a month, Foster was arrested twice on several different charges – though, he dodged a bullet when a domestic violence accusation was later recanted by the alleged victim

Still, he’s going to miss the first two games of the year after the league handed down its punishment for the crimes he wasn’t absolved of.

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    • In the ten games he did play last season though, Foster flashed some incredible, next-level type ability. He looked every bit the part of the impact player and potential perennial Pro Bowl/All-Pro type player the 49ers thought they were getting when they used the thirty-first overall pick on him in the 2017 Draft.

    In ten games last season, Foster racked up 72 total tackles (59 solo), and had a pass defensed. He was rangy and mobile, covering ground from sideline-to-sideline very quickly. He was stout against the run and a capable pass defender.

    Foster was everything Lynch and Shanahan thought they were getting when they traded back up into the first round to get him – and then some.

    There is no question that Foster has the potential to be an impact player on this 49ers defense for many years to come. He could very well be another young NaVorro Bowman or Patrick Willis.

    But – and at the moment, it’s a big but – he’s going to need to prove he can stay out of trouble off the field. He got lucky in a lot of ways this offseason, and is fortunate to be missing just two games.

    He may not be as fortunate next time, if he can’t keep his head on straight and his nose clean.