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TAMPA, Fla .– When Leonard Fournette signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1 last season, coach Bruce Arians said Ronald Jones was still his running back.
He reiterated this throughout the season. But after Fournette, who re-signed four days ago, collected 448 yards of scrimmage in four playoff games en route to a Super Bowl title, Arians is leaving the door open to who will debut in 2021.
“No. This will all be defined by practices and OTAs, training camp and preseason,” Arians said on Tuesday.
“There are no starters. It’s a new football team. I made that message clear when they left, that this team won the Super Bowl. This team didn’t make a – – All of these things will be defined in practice. “
Last season, Fournette only saw the starting action weeks 15-17 after Jones suffered a broken finger that required surgery and was placed on the reserve / COVID-19 list.
This action continued when Jones suffered a quad injury just before the wild card game in Washington, allowing Fournette to earn the nickname “Playoff Lenny” and then “Lombardi Lenny”. Fournette has started all four playoff games and now has a chance to start this season.
“These guys. They all know what the system is. The best players are going to play,” Arians said. “Obviously we’ve had two really, really good ones in this role, and I really like Ke’Shawn Vaughn. I think with an offseason he’s going to have a breakout year too. All of those roles. will be defined when we get to last week. of the preseason. “
Jones racked up 978 yards on 192 carries (5.09 average) and seven rushing touchdowns during the regular season, with 28 receptions and 165 receiving yards. Fournette had 367 yards on 97 carries (3.78 average) and six rushing touchdowns during the regular season, with 36 receptions and 233 receiving yards.
But in the playoffs, Fournette had 82 touches in four games for 448 scrum yards and four touchdowns. Jones, who was back in the divisional game in New Orleans, had 139 scrum yards on 35 touches in three playoff games with no touchdowns. Fournette averaged 4.69 yards per carry in the playoffs, while Jones averaged 3.97.
Asked about wide receiver Antonio Brown, their only key free agent who hasn’t been re-signed, and how quickly he hopes this position is resolved, either by re-signing Brown or adding an outside free agent, said said Arians, “[We’re] just gonna take our time. There are deals out there, and we’ll see how it goes. “
Arians said that, just like last year, the team would consider drafting a quarterback to develop behind Tom Brady, even at 32nd in the first round.
“We go there every year. If the guy is there at the right time and we really think he has a bright future, and no better time than to sit down for a few years and learn from these two guys – every round there’s going to be one of these guys in this pic trying to see who’s the best available right now.
The Arians also provided an update on tight end OJ Howard, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 4 as he entered a throat with Brady.
“Yeah, he’s really close,” Arians said. “He’s not running on the grass yet, but he’s really close. The last time I checked he was 80.85% of body weight in Ultra G, and he looks fantastic. I can’t see it. no setbacks. If and when we can get this program together out of season, on the pitch he will be good to go. What a huge addition to find him back because he was having a great year … The sky is the limit for this. that he can do in this attack. “
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