56 Reuben Foster LB

Foster (suspension) is working with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on adjusting his approach to get off blocks, with the hope that the improvement in technique results in better shoulder health down the road, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Foster's shoulder injury at the end of his college career at Alabama was one of the main reasons he slid to the 49ers at the end of the first round in the 2017 draft. Saleh is making an effort to improve the young linebacker's extension when engaged with blockers so that he can get off the block quicker and put himself in a squared up position before making contact with ball carriers. The school of thought here is that Foster's improved positioning should help him avoid awkward tackling positions that could jeopardize his vulnerable shoulders. The 24-year-old missed five games last season with various injuries, so any improvement in his ability to stay healthy is certainly a benefit to the team and IDP owners alike. Foster will sit out the first two games of the season due to off-field incidents this past offseason, but he should still be the 49ers' top IDP performer even with the suspension.

Foster received a two-game suspension Tuesday for violations of the personal conduct and substances of abuse policies, the 49ers' official site reports.

Foster was arrested twice in the first month and a half of this year, first for marijuana possession and later for domestic violence, threats and possession of an assault weapon. His legal woes dragged into the offseason program, but shortly before the draft his accuser recanted the domestic violence allegations. Within six weeks, he was scot-free legally, but the preceding incidents were enough to earn a suspension from the commissioner's office. Upon serving the ban, Foster will be eligible to play Week 3 at Kansas City.

Foster pleaded no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor weapons charge and was sentenced to two years of probation and 240 hours of community service, David Lombardi of The Athletic Bay Area reports.

Assuming he completes the terms of his probation, Foster's legal worries are now behind him following a tumultuous offseason. Even so, Foster could still be on the hook for a suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy while the league continues to review multiple incidents. In any case, Foster's path appears clear to sticking on the 49ers' roster in 2018 and resuming his role as the team's starting middle linebacker at some point in 2018.

Foster's misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana was dismissed Friday after the linebacker successfully completed a diversion course, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee reports.

Separate from the felony domestic violence charges that were dropped Wednesday, Foster was previously in legal trouble for a Jan. 12 event in which the linebacker was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for possession of marijuana. Despite those chargers being dropped, Foster could still be subject to the NFL's substance-abuse policy in 2018.

Felony charges against Foster were dropped Wednesday after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to proceed with domestic violence accusations against the linebacker, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Foster faced three felony charges in relation to a February arrest involving his girlfriend, who later recanted her claims of domestic violence. With the charges now dropped, Foster has a clear path to return to the 49ers for his second NFL season. However, Maiocco adds that Foster remains on the hook for a misdemeanor charge for possession of an assault weaponm so he could still be facing discipline from the league in advance of the 2018 campaign.