National Football League

Report: Top LB draft prospect Reuben Foster will miss NFL Combine due to shoulder surgery

Published Feb. 13, 2017 12:26 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The NFL Scouting Combine is just a few weeks away, but one of the draft’s top prospects won’t be able to show off his athleticism.

According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, Reuben Foster, arguably the top linebacker in the class, underwent surgery on his right rotator cuff recently. He’ll still attend the combine for team interviews, but he won’t participate in drills.

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Caplan reports that the expected recovery timetable for Foster is four months, which would put him in line for a return in July, just before training camp.

This obviously isn’t ideal for Foster, who’s been projected as high as a top-10 pick. According to Caplan, he’s the best linebacker prospect in the draft for many teams.

Foster is an explosive athlete who loves to roam sideline to sideline, hitting ball carries with great ferocity. He’s also solid in coverage, which is what makes him so attractive to teams picking in the top half of the first round.