Former Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette to sign with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images

After being waived by the Jaguars, Fournette lands not far away from Jacksonville.

Former Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette will be signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to multiple reports.

Fournette confirmed the signing via social media in a post that simply showcased the former fourth-overall pick donning new Buccaneers garb. It didn’t take Fournette long after clearing waivers on Tuesday to find his new home.

.@Buccaneers ✍ #GoBucs pic.twitter.com/IEX9jXHQAf

— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) September 3, 2020

In a surprising move made on Monday, the Jaguars waived the franchise rusher with Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone indicating that the move was strictly football.

“At the end of the day, I just felt that was the best decision for us as a team,” Marrone said on Monday. “I think it gives us the best opportunity with the skill sets that we have with the other players in there I just thought that that was the best for the team.”

Multiple Jaguars, including running back Chris Thompson were shocked at his departure, but understood it was a next-man-up mentality now.

“That’s just part of the game so you never know. You can’t sit back and say, ‘Hey, Leonard is going to be the guy, He’s going to take all [of] the reps or whatever’ and then something like this just happened and it shocked all of us,” Thompson said on Tuesday. “So, for me [and] the way I prepared, the decision came as a shock, but the opportunity, not so much.”

Spending three years with the Jaguars, Fournette accounted for 2,631 yards on 666 carries (4.0 yards per carry) and 17 rushing touchdowns, with 134 receptions for 1,009 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Last season, the former Jaguars rusher accounted for nearly all of the offensive backfield touches between running backs, playing over 80% of the total offensive snaps while missing one game in week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts.

He will now join Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski on an offense that is expected to make a major leap this year under head coach Bruce Arians.

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