Former Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster hasn’t played in an NFL game since October of 2018. The first step to getting Foster back on the field occurred Sunday when the Washington Football Team removed him from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Foster was impressive as a rookie with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 but has missed significant time over the past two seasons. In November 2018, the 49ers waived Foster after he was arrested on a domestic violence charge in Tampa. Washington picked up Foster on a waiver claim, but Foster spent the remainder of the 2018 season on the commissioner’s exempt list while the NFL looked into the allegation. The charge was dismissed in January 2019 by the State Attorney’s Office in Florida.

Foster missed the 2019 season for a different reason. During preseason camp, Foster tore his ACL. Heading into the 2020 season, his fourth since departing Alabama, Foster has played in 16 total games. In those 16 games, he has notched 101 total tackles. Word out of Washington is that Foster is looking ready to pick up where he left off back in 2018.

“I’ve been told his ability to move after injury is – phenomenal!” the team’s Senior VP Media & Content Julie Donaldson wrote on Twitter. “Once he adds discipline of how to play within a scheme and discipline how to be vocal leader of a team, he’ll be the best LB on the field.”

“Also, he has been very engaged in meetings. He’s been working incredibly hard to come back. They expected him to play this season, it was a matter of when,” she added in another tweet.