D.J.

Foster

Foster’s release means rookie Eno Benjamin has made the team. Foster is healthy after battling a hamstring injury last season. He will cool his heels as the No. 4 back on the practice squad.

Foster spent the second half of 2019 on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and will go into the 2020 offseason competing for No. 3 duties behind Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds. Most of his value to Arizona will come on special teams.

Foster didn’t play an offensive snap in six games this season. The Cardinals added recently-acquired RB Kenyan Drake to the active roster in a corresponding roster move.

This wasn’t a given after Foster missed all of 2018 to ACL surgery. Foster will compete for one of the final running back spots this summer.

He is, obviously, done for the season. Foster caught 17 passes for 133 yards as a passing-down option for Arizona last season.

Buzzed about for a roster spot, Foster got extensive run with Tom Brady as he staked a claim to back up third-down back James White. We’d say it’s exactly what he needed to do to clinch a spot on New England’s 53-man roster, but the rookie did lose a fumble inside the Giants’ 20-yard line. Few, if any, coaches are less forgiving of running back turnovers than Bill Belichick. Foster’s fate should be clear by Monday afternoon, as even if he survives the initial cutdown it’s not a guarantee he’s made the roster.

White had some moments as a PPR play in fantasy leagues last year, but his on-field performance was at best replacement level. He was ineffective between the tackles (2.5 YPC) and doesn’t play on special teams. Volin conceded that this would be his “way-too-early roster projection,” but it’s worth filing away. Foster is a running back/slot receiver hybrid with a cheaper salary.

Gaffney had been working toward sewing up a spot, but it’s become clear he hasn’t. A running back who converted to receiver his senior season at Arizona State, Foster returned to the backfield for the Patriots. He’s been limited to five touches this preseason, but should get major run in Thursday’s finale. Foster’s pass-catching prowess works in his favor as the Pats wait on Dion Lewis to return.

Waived on Monday, the UDFA was supposedly going to be a hot item on waivers. Foster is a running back/receiver hybrid who tore up the Pac-12, but he’s barely on the fringes of Dynasty league value.

We’ll be very interested to see if Foster gets claimed on waivers. The running back-receiver hybrid shredded the preseason and was clearly beloved by the Patriots’ organization, which stashed him on the 53-man roster even with several backs ahead of Foster on the depth chart. The Patriots would surely prefer Foster goes on their practice squad. He’ll have go unclaimed first.