Report: Arian Foster Likely To Be Released By Texans

It appears that Arian Foster’s days in Houston are numbered, according to multiple sources that spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Scheduled to make a $6.5 million nonguaranteed base salary next season along with a $500,000 roster bonus to be paid at a $31,250 rate per game active, Foster is entering the final year of a five-year, $43.5 million contract.

The Texans could attempt to restructure the deal to lower his salary-cap figure, or they could move on and release Foster prior to the start of free agency in March. Foster turns 30 in August, an age when many NFL running backs begin to decline. Multiple sources not authorized to speak publicly expect the Texans to ultimately release Foster and for him to sign with another NFL team.

Foster has been a fixture on the Texans offense for years now, and at times was arguably their most important player. When he went down in October with a torn Achilles, Houston’s run game went right along with him. Whether it was popping off big gains on zone stretches or converting first down after first down as a receiver, versatility and production like that simply cannot be replaced by even a platoon full of average running backs. I think I speak for all Texans fans when I say that I sincerely hope that Bill O’Brien and Rick Smith have a plan for the future of this back field, because we may never see another runner in Houston like number 23.