The Washington Football Team started out training camp with linebacker Reuben Foster on the PUP list, but that doesn’t mean that he is far away from being ready to play.
Though he failed the football part of his physical at the start of camp, it has become clear that both the player and coaches are operating under the assumption that Foster will be able to take the field at some point this season, though it’s not yet known when exactly that will take place. On Tuesday afternoon, linebackers coach Steve Russ talked to media members and said that both he and Foster are treating the situation as if Foster will take the field at some point, and doing what they can to keep him physically and mentally ready to do so when the time comes.
Reuben Foster is on the PUP list, but Russ is treating and coaching him like he will be out on the field at some point. He wants to have Foster ready physically and emotionally for whenever that time comes for him.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) August 4, 2020
One major thing that will help Foster be ready to step onto the field once he is physically cleared is staying up to date on the calls and schemes that he will need to know. Russ said on Tuesday that throughout his Zoom meetings with the linebacking group, he has routinely seen Foster take it upon himself to be active in every answer, while not allowing that to detract from his fellow teammates learning process.
Steve Russ wants to get Reuben Foster ready mentally and physically. He said when they were out there today, Foster was mentally putting himself out there. He says when they're on Zoom, Foster will put him on mute and he'll map out what's supposed to be happening on the play.
— Rhiannon Walker (@InstantRHIplay) August 4, 2020
More on Foster: he often takes mental reps and even makes all the calls even when Russ doesn't call on him. Foster will put himself on mute and make all the hand motions to go with the calls.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) August 4, 2020
It’s hard to imagine that a player would be going through this much effort and mental work unless he was getting close to returning to the field. The physical side of things will come eventually, but until then, it looks like Foster is doing everything he can to be able to hit the ground running when he gets that go-ahead.
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