AP Photo/Jason Behnken
Leonard Fournette will be back in time for the playoffs, according to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The news was reported by Russini, who said that Lavonte David is hopeful that he will come back from his foot injury.
Fournette was hurt in the second half of the team's loss to the New Orleans Saints. He was placed on injured reserve after he left the game.
The 12-4 Bucs will host a to-be-determined opponent during Super Wild Card Weekend, as the 263-pound running back has amassed 1,266 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdown in 14 games this season.
They have one more regular-season game left against the Carolina Panthers.
After splitting time with Ronald Jones II in the backfield during the 2020 regular season, Fournette took the reins in the run to the Super Bowl and never looked back. He has rushed for an efficient 4.5 yards per carry and is second on the team with 69 catches.
The five-year veteran out of LSU leads the team in yards from scrimmage despite missing two-plus games.
If Fournette is back in time for the playoffs, Ke'Shawn and Jones will take a backseat. The Super Wild Card Weekend will have two games on January 15 and 16 and one on January 17
According to James Yarcho, 20 of the 32 remaining seeding scenarios would have the Philadelphia Eagles playing in Raymond James Stadium.
A team that has taken a lot of hits in the skill-position group will get a boost from Fournette's return. Wideout Antonio Brown is no longer with the team after he left the sideline midway through the New York Jets game, and wideout Chris Godwin is out for the season after he tore his knee and MCL in the Saints game.
In the end, the goal will be to finish strong against Carolina. It would be the first time in franchise history that the team has won 13 regular-season contests.
