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TAMPA, Fla – Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back and New Orleans native Leonard Fournette will start against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in the NFC Division game, coach Bruce Arians said on Friday.
Regular running back Ronald Jones, who suffered a quad injury and missed last week’s game against Washington, will be a “game-time decision,” Arians said.
“Ro, got better today – it will be a game time decision,” Arians said after Friday practice, which took place indoors on the turf. “But Leonard is going to start the game, and we’ll see how Ro is and how fast he is, so he’ll get his normal reps.”
Even though Jones, who returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, is able to play, Fournette, who ran for 93 yards and tackled 39 receiving yards last week, will still open the game.
“He’s a hell of a player, and he played really really well last week,” Arians said of Fournette, who only learned he would start last week just before the game. “I trusted him all year.”
Fournette acknowledged the challenges of taking on a different role this season at Tampa Bay as a substitute, and described it as a “humiliating process” and that he “wasn’t playing as much as he was used to.”
But he thinks this step has helped prolong his career. He feels fresher than ever in the past as he wraps up the season, and feels less pressure when surrounded by the weapons of Tampa Bay, including those in his own boardroom.
“At first I looked bad, because I didn’t get the ball, but in the end it helps the longevity of my career,” said Fournette, who was personally recruited by Tom Brady when he was released from Jacksonville. Brady texted him, telling him they could use his help.
“I felt like it was the perfect decision for me,” said Fournette, who turned down another opportunity to go to a team where he would have been the focal point of the attack, but instead chose Tampa Bay. “I love it here, to be honest. We have a brotherhood that is going well right now. We are working our tails every day to get better.”
The Arians praised Fournette for taking on a different kind of role and putting the team first.
“He was awesome. As soon as he got here we explained the situation, ‘Your role can change in the blink of an eye,’” Arians said. “Just like he did last week. And, ‘Be prepared.’ And he did. He’s trained hard, he’s prepared and I can’t say enough about him – he’s a hell of a player, and he does a good job. “
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