Saleh expects Foster to continue to learn while sidelined

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Reuben Foster is expected to miss a month of action – give or take.

The 49ers’ rookie linebacker has temporarily replaced his cleats for an orthopedic boot after sustaining a high right ankle sprain on his 11th snap of an NFL player on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

But while he is sidelined, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh expects Foster to continue to grow as a player and learn from the success and mistakes of his teammates.

“Learn. Just watch tape. Try to take in as much information as he can and to really focus on his body, getting it right,” Saleh answered when asked for his objectives for Foster while he is out of action.

“If he can come out of this really understanding the way we’re being attacked and to be able to really see what teams do to our scheme would be very beneficial.”

In his brief appearance in the regular-season opener, Foster recorded three tackles, including one for a loss, and broke up a pass. He will not be able to grow his physical game, so Saleh expects Foster to continue to improve with his understanding and recognition of opposing offenses.

“I always mess with the ‘backers or even defensive players in general that there’s nothing like getting scarred,” Saleh said. “You never forget a scar and when you’re performing a technique and you get exposed at that technique, getting scarred is what helps you grow.

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“So, for him, being able to see that through his teammates, like I always saw my brother get beat by my mom once and a while, my dad and I would be like, ‘Darn, I’m not going to do that.’ So, I felt like I had great growth. I didn’t have to actually go through it to learn from it, so it’s kind of the same thing.”

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