TAMPA, Fla. Tampa Bay Buccaneers are running back and Leonard Fournette, a native of New Orleans, will start in the NFC division game against the New Orleans Saints, coach Bruce Arians said on Friday.
Ronald Jones, who suffered a four-wheel injury and missed the wild card game last week against Washington, will be a ‘playtime decision’, Arians said.
“Ro, got better today – he’s going to be a playtime decision,” Arians said after Friday’s practice, which was held indoors on the lawn. “But Leonard will start the game, and we’ll see how it goes with Ro and full speed, then he gets his normal representatives.”
Even if Jones, who returned on a limited basis on Thursday, can play, Fournette, who rushed for 93 yards last week and settled for 39 runs last week, will still open the game.
“He’s a hell of a player, and he played very well last week,” Arians said of Fournette, who did not find out he would start last week just before the game. “I trusted him all year.”
Fournette acknowledges the challenges of accepting a different role in Tampa Bay this season, calling it a ‘humble process’ and that he ‘does not play as much as he used to’.
But he believes this move has helped extend his career. He feels fresher than he finished the season before, and feels less pressured when surrounded by the tampons of Tampa Bay, including those in his own meeting room.
“Initially, I looked at the bad because I didn’t get the ball, but eventually it helps my lifelong life,” said Fournette, who was personally recruited by Tom Brady when he was released from Jacksonville. Brady texted him saying he could use his help.
“I felt it was the perfect decision for me,” Fournette said. He turned down another opportunity to go to a team where he would be the focal point of the offense, but instead chose Tampa Bay. “I like this, to be honest. We have a brotherhood that is going well now. We work our tails off every day to make each other better.”
Arians praised Fournette for taking on a different kind of role and putting the team first.
“He was great. Once he got here, we explained what the situation was: ‘Your role could change on a hat,'” Arians said. “Just like last week. And: “Be ready.” And he has. He’s trained hard, he’s prepared and I can not say enough about him – he’s a bunch of players and he’s doing a good job. ‘