The Buffalo Bills have added to their running back room well ahead of their primetime matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Per the NFL’s Twitter page, the Bills have inked RB Leonard Fournette to their practice squad.
Fournette has yet to play or sign with a team this season before Monday. The six-foot, 230-pound rusher last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022.
Buffalo Bills RB Leonard Fournette: Brings Playoff Pedigree to Orchard Park
Leonard Fournette, nicknamed Playoff Lenny, was the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. The LSU product spent his first three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, totaling 3,640 scrimmage yards and 19 total touchdowns during that span. Fournette signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following his release, rushing for 367 tards and six touchdowns in his first season. However, the 28-year-old eclipsed over 1,190 yards in his past two seasons but rushed for just 3.5 yards per attempt last year.
Fournette is known mainly for his playoff success. He has rushed for 604 yards and nine touchdowns in nine postseason games. He has also caught 35 passes for 254 yards and one score. Fournette was instrumental in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl run in 2020, rushing 64 times for 300 yards and three scores in four games. He took 16 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown in his team’s 31-9 Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Leonard Fournette: Potentail 2023 Role
The Bills will place Leonard Fournette on the practice squad to start his tenure. The Bills currently have former second-round pick James Cook, veteran Latavius Murray, and Ty Johnson as the active running backs. Offseason signee Damien Harris was placed on the injured reserve (IR) earlier this month after suffering a scary neck injury.
Cook and Murray have been the go-to options for head coach Sean McDermott. Cook has rushed for 4.8 yards per attempt this season on 102 carries. Meanwhile, Murray has struggled with efficiency but has been the change of pace back to Cook. Meanwhile, Ty Johnson has yet to register a carry. Fournette could challenge Murray for the backup role if the latter continues to struggle to break big rushes.
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