Reuben Foster Expected to Participate in Training Camp Despite Shoulder Injury

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Tuesday that rookie linebacker Reuben Foster is expected to be ready for training camp, per Alex Marvez of the Sporting News.

That echoed a report from Peter King of The MMQB on Monday:

"The Niners, before Foster’s medical re-check with the team, labeled him a 2-minus on their medical scale, meaning they had concerns requiring another examination. After that examination, team physical Dr. Timothy McAdams and the Niners were satisfied with Foster’s healing, GM John Lynch said, and the medical grade was changed to a 2-plus. 'He'll be fine for training camp,' Lynch said. 'We feel as strong as ever about his health, and really, we've never wavered. Our medical people are confident in him.' Foster's shoulder will be monitored as closely as any injury entering training camp, because of everything said about it before the draft and since."

Foster had rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder in February, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.    

He came into this year's NFL draft with a number of concerns surrounding him, from his shoulder injury to the fact that he was kicked out of the NFL Scouting Combine after an altercation with a hospital worker to a failed a drug test at the combine. 

That caused Foster, the No. 3 player on Matt Miller's big board before the draft, to drop to the No. 31 pick.

There haven't been too many questions about Foster on the field, however, after he registered 115 tackles and five sacks for the Alabama Crimson Tide last season. He was the leader of that defense and, along with fellow first-rounder Solomon Thomas, will be expected to turn around San Francisco's 32nd-ranked defense from 2016.

Andy Benoit of The MMQB believes Foster is an excellent fit for the Niners: 

If he lives up to expectations, Foster could be remembered as the steal of the 2017 NFL draft. Getting him healthy and ready to go by training camp is the first goal for the Niners, however.