The San Francisco 49ers will be deprived of one of their main defenders to start the season.

Linebacker Reuben Foster was suspended for two games for violating NFL policies on personal conduct and drug abuse. Tuesday.

The NFL said the suspension was related to a felony charge, for which Foster pleaded uncontested, and a possession offense of marijuana, which was dropped in May.

"I accept the decision of the League sorry that my mistakes have hurt my team.I have a responsibility towards the 49ers, our fans and our community, and I am determined to learn the lessons from this situation and make better choices in the future, "Foster said in a statement.

The District Attorney's Office in Santa Clara, California, accused Foster of domestic violence in April, but the linebacker's ex-girlfriend later stated that she had invented her allegations. 19659008] For more information: Questions about the 49ers' training camp: How far can Jimmy Garoppolo take the lead in San Francisco

Foster , 24, was second. He was the No. 31 pick in the NFL draft in 2017.

He will miss the 49ers' games against the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions.

"Our organization understands and supports the league's decision," 49ers general manager John Lynch said, "While we are disappointed that Reuben is not with our team for the first two games of the season, we will continue to work with him to make better decisions and eliminate unnecessary distractions.We are encouraged to see Reuben take responsibility for his mistakes, and hope that he has learned from them too. "

] Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.

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