Tag: Leonard Fournette

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) rushes the ball against the Dallas Cowboys linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (55) in the first half during the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Bucs to release RB Leonard Fournette

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Running back Leonard Fournette is expected to be released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the start of the new league year, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

The new league year begins March 15.

Fournette is in line to receive $2 million in guaranteed salary for 2023. Provided Fournette’s exit comes as a post-June 1 designation, the Bucs will save over $1.5 million on the salary cap, per NFL Network.

The move to cut bait is not a surprise considering Fournette was supplanted by then-rookie Rachaad White toward the end of last season.

Fournette, 28, signed a three-year, $21 million extension prior to the 2022 season. He rushed for 668 yards and three touchdowns and added 73 catches for 523 yards and three scores in 16 games (nine starts).

Fournette has rushed for 4,478 yards and 34 touchdowns and added 312 catches for 2,219 yards and seven scores in 79 career games (61 starts) with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buccaneers. He was selected by the Jaguars with the fourth overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft out of LSU.

White, 24, rushed for 481 yards and one touchdown in 17 games last season. He was selected by the Bucs in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Oct 2, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette added to injury report

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette hit the injury report Thursday and was limited in practice due to a foot injury.

His status for Tampa’s Week 14 game with the San Francisco 49ers is uncertain.

Fournette, 27, missed Week 12 with a hip pointer before returning Monday with 16 total touches in Tampa Bay’s win over the New Orleans Saints.

The 49ers are No. 1 in the NFL against the run, with 907 yards allowed and 3.4 yards per carry.

Fournette, in a co-op in the Bucs’ backfield with rookie Rachaad White, has a team-high 511 rushing yards this season. He has 57 receptions for 347 yards and three touchdowns.

White emerged as a threat to Fournette’s starting job during the 21-16 win over the Seattle Seahawks in London. Fournette scored a touchdown in the game, but after nearly missing the trip due to a passport issue, he was slowed by the hip injury.

White rushed 22 times for 105 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 27, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Fournette (hip) expected back after bye

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette is expected to return in Week 12 after leaving Sunday’s game in Munich with a hip pointer, ESPN reported.

The Bucs have a bye this week. They next play at Cleveland on Nov. 27.

Fournette was removed in the fourth quarter of the 21-16 win against the Seattle Seahawks due to the injury.

He rushed 14 times for 57 yards before departing, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that put the Buccaneers (5-5) ahead 14-0 at halftime. He caught one pass for 1 yard.

Fournette also threw an interception when he attempted a pass to quarterback Tom Brady on a gadget play in the third quarter.

Fournette, 27, has run for 462 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games this season, his third campaign with the Bucs and sixth in the NFL.

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs RB Leonard Fournette (hip) facing further tests

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette exited Sunday’s win in Germany with a hip pointer and will undergo further testing, head coach Todd Bowles confirmed.

Fournette was removed in the fourth quarter of the 21-16 win against the Seattle Seahawks in Munich.

He rushed 14 times for 57 yards before departing, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that put the Buccaneers (5-5) ahead 14-0 at halftime. He caught one pass for 1 yard.

Fournette also threw an interception when he attempted a pass to quarterback Tom Brady on a gadget play in the third quarter.

Fournette, 27, has run for 462 yards and three touchdowns in 10 starts this season, his third campaign with the Bucs and sixth in the NFL.

–Field Level Media

Jun 7, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) works outs at AdventHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Bucs unhappy with RB Leonard Fournette’s weight

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly unhappy with running back Leonard Fournette’s significant offseason weight gain.

Fournette is more than 30 pounds heavier than his listed weight of 228 pounds, according to a Tampa Bay Times podcast.

“The last time we saw Leonard Fournette he was about a donut shy of 260,” longtime Buccaneers beat writer Rick Stroud said on the podcast.

Fournette, 27, did not participate in voluntary organized team activities and appeared out of shape last month at mandatory minicamp. Training camp opens next week.

“Coaches were not happy — and that’s an understatement — when he didn’t participate in the OTAs, but then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing damn near 260,” Stroud said. “And that’s not a good sign for a guy that you just spent a three-year contract on.”

In March after taking a free agent visit to the New England Patriots, Fournette signed a three-year, $21 million deal that includes $12 million guaranteed.

Fournette ran for 812 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 69 passes for 454 yards and two scores in 14 games (13 starts) last season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 19, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off to running back Leonard Fournette (7) in the second quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Fournette, Lavonte David game-time decisions for Bucs vs. Eagles

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians labeled running back Leonard Fournette and Pro Bowl linebacker Lavonte David as the “most questionable” of the game-time decisions for Sunday’s NFC wild-card game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

Fournette and David were designated for return from injured reserve on Wednesday. They are eligible to be activated at any time.

Fournette, 26, was placed on IR on Dec. 23 with a hamstring injury he sustained four days earlier in a 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He led Tampa Bay in rushing with 812 yards and eight touchdowns. He also caught 69 passes for 454 yards and two touchdowns.

David, 31, was also put on IR on Dec. 23 with a foot injury he suffered in the game against the Saints. He started all 12 games in which he played, racking up 97 tackles, two sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. David was All-Pro in 2013 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2015. He was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020.

While the availability of Fournette and David are in question, running back Ronald Jones (ankle) and wide receiver Cyril Grayson Jr. (hamstring) were ruled out for Sunday’s game by Arians.

Should Fournette sit out on Sunday, the Buccaneers will turn to a stable of running backs that include Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Le’Veon Bell and potentially Giovani Bernard.

Bernard has yet to be activated from injured reserve. Vaughn led the Bucs in rushing in their regular season finale vs. the Carolina Panthers last week with 10 carries for 29 yards and touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs with the ball in the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Bucs’ Leonard Fournette, Lavonte David return to practice

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated three players off injured reserve Wednesday, including primary running back Leonard Fournette and Pro Bowl linebacker Lavonte David.

Running back Giovani Bernard also returns to practice. The Bucs have 21 days to promote the trio to the active roster. It’s expected that all three will be ready to play in Sunday’s wild-card game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.

Fournette, 26, was placed on IR on Dec. 23 with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 15. He led Tampa in rushing with 812 yards to go with eight touchdowns. He also caught 69 passes for 454 yards and two TDs.

David, 31, was also put on IR on Dec. 23 with a foot injury he sustained in the same Dec. 19 loss to New Orleans. He started all 12 games he played in, racking up 97 tackles, two sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. David was All-Pro in 2013 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2015.

Bernard, 30, has been on IR since Dec. 14 after sustaining a hip injury in Week 14 against Buffalo. He has been Tampa’s third-down back, catching 23 passes for 123 yards and three TDs. He’s also rushed eight times for 58 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 17, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Le'Veon Bell (17) carries the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Le’Veon Bell signing with Bucs; Leonard Fournette to IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign veteran free agent running back Le’Veon Bell pending a physical, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

The move comes amid an ESPN report that starting RB Leonard Fournette was likely headed to injured reserve for the rest of the regular season following a hamstring injury suffered in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans.

The move would reunite Bell with Antonio Brown after their time together as a potent 1-2 offensive punch in Pittsburgh.

Fournette, 26, leads the team in carries (180), rushing yards (812) and rushing touchdowns (eight). He also has provided an impact in the passing game with 69 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns. The Bucs expect Fournette back for the playoffs, per the report.

Ronald Jones II likely will assume the bulk of the workload in the backfield with Fournette sidelined.

Bell, 29, appeared in five games earlier this season with the Baltimore Ravens. He rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.

Overall, Bell is a two-time All-Pro who has rushed for 6,536 yards and 42 touchdowns in 93 games.

He and Brown played together with the Steelers from 2013-17.

The Buccaneers on Tuesday also placed wide receiver Chris Godwin and defensive lineman Pat O’Connor on IR.

–Field Level Media