Tom Brady rallies Buccaneers but they lose in the last two minutes when a field goal by Chris Boswell and a pick-six by the Saints give them the win. (1:33).
TAMPA (Fla.) -- Bruce Arians, the Buccaneers' coach, said that it would require an "extraordinary offer" to trade Ronald Jones, their running back, for the starting position. He had been replaced by Leonard Fournette this season.
Arians stated Oct. 20 Jones wasn't available for trade. However, there has been speculation about Jones' availability given Derrick Henry's injury to his running back in Tennessee and Bucs general manger Jason Licht's close relationship to Jon Robinson, Titans general manager.
Trade deadline for the NFL is Tuesday, November 2nd at 4 p.m. ET
It would have to be something truly, really special. Jones, the Bucs’ second-round draft pick in 2018, Arians stated that Jones is a joy to watch. "It's only one nick on Leonard, then Rojo's a guy. It's still a great one two punch. It would have had to be exceptional."
Jones played 22 games between 2019-2020 for the Bucs, but he fractured his finger and was diagnosed last season with COVID-19. This opened the door to Fournette who led the Bucs in scrimmage with 448 yards in four postseason games. Fournette earned the nickname "Playoff Lenny" and then "Lombardi Lenny" for his performance.
Fournette is 15th in the NFL with 439 yards rushing and an average of 4.35 yards per run. He is 10th among running backs in the league with 678 yards from scrimmage. Jones is at 4.41 yards per run, but has had far fewer carries this year. Fournette has carried it 101 times to Jones' 44.
Jones's biggest problem has been his hands. Jones worked hard to improve this area, but it was a major reason why the Bucs signed Giovani Bernard as their third down back. Jones was only targeted six times this season in the passing game, but he has managed to catch four passes for 39 yards.
Arians also gave an update on Rob Gronkowski’s back spasms. He had to leave Sunday’s 36-27 loss against the New Orleans Saints in just five snaps.
Gronkowski was playing his first game since Week 3, when he suffered cracked ribs, punctured lungs and lost his right arm. Arians stated that he wasn't sure of Gronkowski’s injuries, which are somewhat related to the rib injury.
"I don't know what to do with this back." Arians stated that it spasmed up. We don't know. "We'll have to wait until we see what happens with that one."
Gronkowski had three spinal surgeries between 2009 and 2016 to fix herniated disks and fractured vertebrae.
Arians acknowledged that Gronkowski "probably shouldn’t have played" against Saints, but said that he was "begging" to play and re-injure himself.
Arians was also unsure if Sean Murphy-Bunting (starting cornerback) and Carlton Davis (both on injured reserve) would be able return to the field after the bye week. Murphy-Bunting sustained a dislocated elbow in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, while Davis suffered a quad injury in Week 4 against the New England Patriots.
Arians stated that "I think we will know more when we return, but Sean and Carlton seem like they're making really great progress, and Scotty Miller is too."
Miller was placed on injured reserve over the past month due to a serious turf toe injury. NFL rules require that players miss at least three games while on IR.
