Robert Foster (American football)

Robert Foster Jr. (born May 7, 1994) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama and signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins.

Robert Foster
refer to caption
Foster with the Washington Football Team in 2020
Personal information
Born: (1994-05-07) May 7, 1994
Monaca, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Central Valley (Monaca)
College:Alabama
Position:Wide receiver
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2021
Receptions:32
Receiving yards:642
Receiving touchdowns:3
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life

Foster attended Central Valley High School in Monaca, Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh, where he played both football and basketball.[1] While on the way to a football camp, he survived a shooting in which one of his teammates was killed.[2][3] Coming out of high school, Foster was the nation's No. 2 receiver ranked 23rd overall in the 2013 class.[4] A 4-star recruit, Foster committed to Alabama over offers from Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh, among others.[5]

College career

During his redshirt sophomore season in 2015, Foster suffered a season-ending shoulder injury after catching 10 receptions 116 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games.[6] He was limited in 2016 and considered transferring before deciding to stay with Alabama.[7][8][9]

In 2017, he caught 14 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown.[10] Overall, he caught 35 passes for 389 yards and three scores during his career at Alabama.[11]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
6 ft 1+5⁄8 in
(1.87 m)		 196 lb
(89 kg)		 32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		 9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		4.41 s1.58 s2.62 s4.20 s6.90 s33.5 in
(0.85 m)		9 ft 8 in
(2.95 m)
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[12][13]

Despite limited college statistics, Foster was invited to the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine due to his athleticism. He clocked a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, fifth overall among receivers.[14]

2018

Foster signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2018, reuniting with Brian Daboll, his one-time offensive coordinator at Alabama.[15][3] In Week 2, against the Los Angeles Chargers, he recorded his first two professional receptions, which went for 30 yards.[16] He was waived on October 18, 2018, and was re-signed to the practice squad.[17] He was promoted to the active roster on November 10, 2018.[18]

Foster recorded his first 100-yard receiving game against the New York Jets on November 11, finishing with 105 yards on three receptions.[19] Against the Jacksonville Jaguars two weeks later following the Bills' bye week, he recorded his first receiving touchdown, a 75-yard pass from Josh Allen. Foster finished that game with two receptions for 94 yards and the touchdown.[20][21] In Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins he only caught one pass for 27 yards.[22] In the next game against the New York Jets on December 9, he made a career high seven catches on eight targets for 104 yards.[23] Against the Detroit Lions the following week, Foster excelled again, catching four passes for 108 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown from Allen, en route to a 14–13 Bills win.[24] In the season finale, Foster caught four passes for 21 yards and a touchdown in a 42–17 win over Miami.[25]

Foster mentioned being cut from the team, demoted to the practice squad, and being brought back again as a "wake-up call" that sparked his late-season success.[21][26] He finished his rookie season with 27 receptions for 541 yards and 3 touchdowns while averaging 20 yards per reception and was named by Pro Football Focus to its all-rookie team as an offensive flex player.[27]

2019

Foster was sparsely used in the Bills offense during his second professional season, as the team added veterans John Brown and Cole Beasley during the offseason. He also struggled with injuries during preseason.[28] Foster caught just three of 18 targets for 64 yards, and was made inactive during the Bills' playoff game against the Houston Texans in favor of Duke Williams. He also rushed twice for 29 yards.[29]

2020

On April 2, 2020, Foster was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Bills. He was waived as part of final roster cuts on September 5, 2020.[30]

Green Bay Packers

On September 9, 2020, Foster was signed to the Green Bay Packers' practice squad.[31]

Washington Football Team

On October 22, 2020, Foster was signed off the Packers' practice squad by the Washington Football Team.[32]

Miami Dolphins

On March 18, 2021, Foster was signed by the Miami Dolphins.[33] He was waived/injured on August 24, 2021, and placed on injured reserve.[34] He was released on August 30.[35]

Dallas Cowboys

On September 14, 2021, Foster was signed to the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Cowboys on January 18, 2022. He was waived on March 11, 2022.[36]

New York Giants

On March 14, 2022, Foster was signed by the New York Giants.[37] On August 19, 2022, Foster was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.[38] He was released on August 25. On October 10, 2022, he signed to the Giants practice squad.[39] He was released on November 29.[40]

Indianapolis Colts

On December 13, 2022, the Indianapolis Colts signed Foster to their practice squad.[41] He was released two days later on December 15, 2022.[42]

NFL career statistics

Regular season
Robert Foster
YearTeamGPGSRecYardsYPRTDsLNG
2018BUF 1332754120.0375
2019BUF 13236421.3024
2020WSH 4223719.5028
Career3073264220.0375

References
  1. "Central Valley grad, Alabama WR Robert Foster recovering after automobile accident". Beaver County Times. June 20, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  2. Zenitz, Matt (June 30, 2015). "8 random facts about Alabama wide receiver Robert Foster". AL.com. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  3. Maiorana, Sal (July 30, 2018). "Rookie Robert Foster survived attack by gunman and is cherishing life with Buffalo Bills". Democrat and Chroonicle. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  4. Casagrande, Michael (June 4, 2018). "Robert Foster recalls learning under AJ McCarron, why they can laugh about it now". AL.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  5. "Robert Foster, 2013 Wide Receiver". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. "Robert Foster 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  7. "Robert Foster 2016 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  8. Olson, Andrew (January 12, 2017). "Report: Alabama WR Robert Foster considering transfer". Saturday Down South. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  9. Olson, Andrew (August 7, 2017). "Crimson Tide WR Robert Foster explains why he decided to stay at Alabama". Saturday Down South. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  10. "Robert Foster 2017 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  11. "Robert Foster Career Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  12. "Robert Foster Combine Profile". National Football League. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  13. "2018 Draft Scout Robert Foster, Alabama NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  14. "NFL Draft & Combine Profile – Robert Foster". National Football League.
  15. "What you need to know about the Bills undrafted free agents". BuffaloBills.com. May 11, 2018. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018.
  16. "Bills' Robert Foster: Involved in offense". CBSSports.com. September 17, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  17. Brown, Chris (October 18, 2018). "Bills promote WR Phillips from practice squad". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  18. "Bills call-up WR Robert Foster; Tremaine Edmunds expected to play". BuffaloBills.com. November 10, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  19. "Buffalo Bills at New York Jets – November 11th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  20. "Bills' Robert Foster: Speeds past Jaguars". CBS Sports. November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  21. "Bills' Robert Foster starts to catch on given 2nd chance". Fox Sports. Associated Press. November 28, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  22. "Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – December 2nd, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  23. "New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – December 9th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  24. "Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills – December 16th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  25. "Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills – December 30th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  26. Brown, Chris (January 14, 2019). "Robert Foster relied on tunnel vision and work ethic to deliver a breakout rookie season". buffalobills.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  27. Mellor, Cam (January 3, 2019). "The 2018 NFL All-Rookie Team". profootballfocus.com. Pro Football Focus. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  28. Wojton, Nick (August 26, 2019). "Sean McDermott reveals Robert Foster injury". Bills Wire. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  29. "Robert Foster 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  30. "Robert Foster: Cut by Buffalo". CBSSports.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  31. "Packers sign WR Foster and Lb Harris to practice squad". Packers.com. September 9, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  32. "Washington Signs WR Robert Foster, Releases TE Marcus Baugh". WashingtonFootball.com. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  33. "Miami Dolphins Sign WR Robert Foster". MiamiDolphins.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  34. "Roster Moves: Dolphins Release Two, Waive One, and Place One on Injured Reserve". MiamiDolphins.com. August 24, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  35. Poupart, Alain (August 30, 2021). "Dolphins Notebook: Cuts Begin, Preseason Props, More". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  36. Alper, Josh (March 11, 2022). "Cowboys cut Reggie Robinson, Robert Foster, Ito Smith". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  37. Eisen, Michael (March 14, 2022). "Giants sign WR Robert Foster; C.J. Board back with team". Giants.com. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  38. Salomone, Dan (August 19, 2022). "Giants sign O-linemen Chris Owens, Josh Rivas; WR Robert Foster to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  39. Eisen, Michael (October 10, 2022). "Giants sign veteran WR Robert Foster to practice squad". Giants.com. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  40. Wilson, Alexander (November 29, 2022). "New York Giants sign 3 players to practice squad, release WR Robert Foster". Empire Sports Media. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  41. "Colts Sign TE Nikola Kalinic to the 53-man Roster From The Practice Squad, Waive WR Keke Coutee, Sign WR Robert Foster To The Practice Squad". Colts.com. December 13, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  42. "Colts Sign DT McTelvin Agim To The Practice Squad, Release WR Robert Foster From The Practice Squad". Colts.com. December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
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