On Friday night, the Toronto Argonauts announced that they had granted RB D.J. Foster his release to pursue other opportunities.
The release is a surprise for some, considering how well the CFL Rookie Foster played a season ago for Double Blue.
However, the writing was on the wall for D.J. Foster when the Argos signed superstar RB Andrew Harris in free agency. The signing of one of the best National runners in CFL history, coupled with the recent drafting of Ontario native Daniel Adeboboye, precipitated this joint decision by Foster and Toronto.
Some will speculate that cap space may have something to do with this release. With the Argos releasing veterans Jamal Campbell, Jeff Richards, and Crezdon Butler. But the parting of ways of Foster and the Boatmen goes beyond that.
Many felt that with the signing of Andrew Harris, Toronto could decide to flip the ratio at halfback by keeping the position All-Canadian. And the team’s recent actions certainly support that theory. Ironically enough, in recent days, reports have come out about an impasse in negotiations for a new labor agreement between the CFL and the players association over the current ratio structure in the league. Among other things.
Toronto currently has two other American runners in the recently acquired Javon Leake and AJ Ouellette on their roster. The Argos also have National FB Dion Pellerin, who could also play at halfback.
The 28-year-old former Arizona State standout and NFL RB. D.J. Foster signed with Toronto Argonauts last July. He played ten games for the Boatmen. Foster finished 2021 with 82 carries for 332 yards and two touchdowns. The dynamic pass catcher led all CFL running backs with 316 receiving yards on 33 catches, with 2 TDs. Foster made his CFL debut on August 21 against the defending CFL champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he rushed for 101 yards and a TD on ten carries. He scored his first CFL touchdown on a 10-yard run in that game. It was one of the best CFL debuts by an American player in recent memory. In the playoffs for Toronto, Foster carried the ball 11 times for 38 yards and caught three passes for 57 yards in the Eastern Final loss to Hamilton.
The next step for D.J. Foster will be an interesting one. The dual-threat running back could stay in Canada and attempt to land with another CFL team. Or he could make the journey south of the border to pursue opportunities with the United States Football League, the arriving XFL in 2023, or could look to pursue another shot in the NFL. Foster, who has always been a versatile tweener at RB, showed in Toronto that he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
