Guthrie’s Donte’ Foster lands on NFL practice squad

The bad news for Guthrie’s Donte’ Foster was that he did not survive the final roster cut for the Minnesota Vikings. However, the good news is the Vikings were not wanting to separate their ways completely by signing the stand-out wide receiver to the team’s practice squad.

The NFL officially announced the practice squads for all 32 NFL teams. Foster is one of two wide receivers signed to the Vikings’s 10-player practice team.

In the final pre-season scrimmage, Foster hauled in two catches for 27-yards against the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 28.

It is believed, Foster, undrafted, is the second player from Guthrie to have an exclusive opportunity at the NFL level. In the ninth round of the 1988 draft, New England selected Neil Galbraith with the 240th selection.

Foster, who finished with 2,170 receiving yards and 21 TDs on 167 receptions at Ohio, has now scratched his way one step closer to playing on Sundays.

What is a practice squad?

The practice squad consists of 10 extra spots for players to practice with an NFL team but not participate in games. The practice squad is useful for a number of reasons. One, it helps teams hold onto developmental players with upside who aren’t quite yet deserving of a spot on the 53-man roster. Two, it provides the team with extra bodies in practice. 

Practice squad players earn a minimum of $6,300 per week, which totals $107,100 for a 17-week stint. A team can pay a practice squad player however much they want to entice the player to stay on their practice squad. Practice squad salaries do count against a team’s cap space.