SANTA CLARA – There is something different about Reuben Foster.
It is similar to when Patrick Willis stepped on the practice field with the 49ers for training camp in 2007. He started out as a backup and had to earn his way onto the field.
All it took was two exhibition games. Brandon Moore was out of the starting lineup. Patrick Willis was in, and seven consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl followed.
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Foster is not being handed a starting job with the 49ers. In fact, he faces a more difficult challenge to break into the starting lineup.
In front of Foster is veteran Malcolm Smith at the weakside linebacker spot. Eventually, Foster’s role in the 49ers’ defense will be the middle linebacker spot, where NaVorro Bowman is entrenched as the starter.
But it’s only a matter of time until Foster asserts himself as an every-down player.
Foster will have to earn his way into the starting lineup. He will have to earn respect with how he practices and plays. That was apparent on Thursday when Bowman was asked whether he watched Foster in college. Bowman gave a tepid review of Foster.
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That’s understandable. After all, Foster had not practiced with the team until Friday. He was held out practices during the offseason program as he rehabbed from shoulder surgery. It took Bowman a full year before he won his starting job. Bowman started one game as a rookie before establishing himself as a starter and an All-Pro performer the next season.
Bowman is not going to lavish praise on a player who had never made it through an NFL practice – even someone who was the most-accomplished collegiate player on the 49ers’ roster.
Foster received medical clearance on Wednesday to take part on Day 1 of practice when the 49ers opened training camp on Friday. It took almost no time for him to stand out.
Foster intercepted a pass from fellow rookie C.J. Beathard early in Friday’s practice. Then, quite a scene followed. Foster returned it into the end zone through a maze of players -- many of whom were standing behind the line of scrimmage and not even involved in the play.
In his three seasons at Alabama, Foster never intercepted a pass. He was known for his toughness and violent sideline-to-sideline tackling ability.
“It was good to get him out there, get him on the field,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I know he’s been chomping at the bit for a while now. It was good to see him go through it full speed, deal with getting aligned right and stuff. I think he got an interception out there today, which was good for him. It was a good first day.”
Foster could quickly turn into the most-exciting player on a team that is severely lacking in star quality. The 49ers targeted him early in the draft process as a player they wanted. Then, he had to check out physically and mentally for the team to determine when he was a person they wanted, too. When he visited the 49ers before the draft, general manager John Lynch became even more intrigued.
“He’s got an excitement that’s infectious,” Lynch said. “He’s an alpha dog. He wants to lead. He’s ready, he’s eager and we are certainly excited to watch him play.”
The 49ers did not believe his shoulder was a major issue. According to national reports, some teams removed him from their draft boards over concerns about his health. The 49ers would have taken him with the No. 3 pick in the draft if Myles Garrett and Solomon Thomas were selected with the top two picks.
Concerns over Foster’s health and a diluted urine sample, which immediately places him into the NFL program for substances of abuse, were the only justifications for his tumble to the end of the first round. The 49ers found a trade partner in the Seattle Seahawks and took Foster with the No. 31 overall pick.
Some teams probably really did have serious concerns about his shoulder. And perhaps those concerns were justified. But, maybe, the teams that could have drafted him feel the need to cover their own backsides for passing on someone who has the look of a special player.
QUICK SLANTS
--Six years after Mike Singletary's hill was leveled at the team's practice facility, a new inclined training tool has been added. This one does not include dirt or grass. It's a large ramp, supported with steel beams, and covered in a synthetic surface. The structure along the east side of the 49ers' weight room is a 30-percent grade that stretches approximately 30 feet off the ground.
When asked if he had ever seen anything quite like it, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk said, laughing, "A man-made hill like that? No, nothing attached to the weight room like that. I've seen some hills in my day, but nothing like that."
--Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas jogged onto a side field 75 minutes into practice after signing his rookie contract. He passed the team's conditioning test but watched the remainder of practice after going through his workout. He is scheduled to practice on Saturday.
--Jaquiski Tartt took over at free safety with the 49ers' first-team defense in place of Jimmie Ward, who sustained a left hamstring injury during the conditioning test Thursday and was placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
--Rookie receiver B.J. Johnson sustained a left leg injury early in practice and watched the remainder of the practice with ice on his leg.
--Cornerback Dontae Johnson lined up opposite of Rashard Robinson with the first-team defense. Johnson sustained what appeared to be a minor right shoulder injury that sidelined him for a few plays late in practice.
--Ronald Blair and Eric Reid intercepted Brian Hoyer passes. Blair's interception came after Eli Harold, who saw a lot of action at strongside linebacker with the first team, tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage. Ray-Ray Armstrong made the defensive play of the day when he ran stride-for-stride with running back Joe Williams along the right sideline to break up a pass, nearly making an over-the-shoulder interception.