San Francisco 49ers: Which players wind up making the Pro Bowl this season?
By Peter Panacy
No. 2: Linebacker Reuben Foster
Whether or not rookie linebacker Reuben Foster winds up making the Pro Bowl his first season largely depends on how voters view how much of an impact he had outside his multitude of injuries.
Foster has managed to play in just four games this season, but there’s little doubt behind his on-field presence.
Despite the injuries and subsequent absences, Foster ranks seventh on the 49ers defense with 24 tackles. That’s eight more than fellow linebacker Eli Harold, who has appeared in all 10 of the Niners’ contests.
Additionally, Pro Football Focus ranks Foster as the fifth-best linebacker in the league right now, owning an overall grade of 89.0, which is easily tops among all rookies.
If Foster stays healthy and finishes the season on a strong note, that might be enough to convince the wise Pro Bowl selection-committee masses he’s worth a nomination.
And if he doesn’t go through this route, an alternate isn’t out of the question.