The Buffalo Bills have made a key addition ahead of the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline. However, instead of agreeing to a trade, they dipped into the free agent market and signed a veteran running back.
Leonard Fournette intends to sign with the Bills’ practice squad on Monday, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The deal is pending a physical.
BREAKING: Leonard Fournette tells me he’s in Buffalo and is planning to sign with the #Bills today, pending a physical.
"Playoff Lenny" had nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards, including a career-high 523 receiving yards, along with 6 TDs last season. @BleacherReport pic.twitter.com/OWkSmyEGrs
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 30, 2023
Fournette, 28, is a former first-round pick who spent the early years of his career in Jacksonville. He was impressive with the Jaguars, totaling 2,631 rushing yards, 1,009 receiving yards, and 19 touchdowns over 36 starts. However, the team released the LSU product after the 2019 season, ultimately replacing him with undrafted rookie James Robinson.
A free agent for the first time in his career, Fournette joined Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. The two made their Buccaneers debut together in 2020 and won a Super Bowl that year. Fournette remained a primary backfield option for the Buccaneers through 2022 when he was eventually phased out of the offensive plan by rookie Rachaad White.
White’s emergence prompted the Buccaneers to release Fournette last offseason. Speculation that he could sign a new deal during training camp or the early weeks of the regular season never came to fruition. Now, though, with the 2023 campaign almost halfway complete, Fournette will embark on the next chapter of his career in Buffalo.
Fournette offers the Bills a healthy, reliable veteran presence out of the backfield. James Cook will still be Buffalo’s lead back, but Fournette could challenge Latavius Murray for the No. 2 role in the offense. Damien Harris had been operating alongside Murray as a depth option until he suffered a serious neck injury in Week 6 versus the Giants.
Depending on how fast Fournette gets acclimated in Buffalo, he could earn touches as soon as Week 9. The Bills play the Bengals on Sunday Night Football.
Main Image Credit:
