The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back room will look a little different on Sunday. After initially being listed as questionable for the team’s Week 12 game against the Cleveland Browns, Leonard Fournette was released by the team on Saturday. Additionally, the team activated Giovani Bernard from injured reserve.
Fournette suffered a hip injury in the team’s Week 10 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Germany. For the first time this season, Fournette did not start this game, as he worked behind rookie Rachaad White. Fournette edged White in the first half of the game, but White played more snaps. Fournette came out in the third quarter and White finished the game with 22 carries for 105 yards.
Fournette has been limited in practice all week, but coach Todd Bowles said the running back is still in pain. The team left the door open for him to play all week before closing it Saturday afternoon. In his absence, White should be expected to lead the backfield, although Bernard and Ke’Shawn Vaughn could also play roles.
Bernard has been out since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. He didn’t touch the ball in either of the first two games, only playing on special teams. Last season, he had eight carries for 58 yards and 23 catches for 123 yards and three touchdowns while working mostly behind Fournette and Ronald Jones.
The 10-year-old veteran has been a reliable passer out of the backfield throughout his career, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bucs still want White to fill that role on Sunday, given they were looking to do more for him. . late work anyway.
