Bills pivot on pursuit of Leonard Fournette after buzz of potential signing
Six weeks into the NFL season, Leonard Fournette appears to finally be generating buzz on the free-agent market. However, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back no longer appears to be a candidate for joining the Buffalo Bills ailing backfield.
Fielding interest from several teams, Fournette informed NFL insider Jordan Schultz that he was scheduled to visit the Bills on Tuesday. Yet, despite the belief that Fournette had a "good chance" of signing a deal, the visit has since been scratched.
Schultz reported on Tuesday that Buffalo's interest originally stemmed from concerns it would lose running back Ty Johnson from the practice squad. With Johnson expected to remain on the roster, the Bills no longer had the need to pursue Fournette.
Buffalo lost running back Damien Harris to a neck injury in the second quarter of its Week 6 victory over the New York Giants. Harris was taken off the field in an ambulance and transported to the hospital. He has since been released from the hospital and is resting at home. According to head coach Sean McDermott, Harris is "in good spirits," per BuffaloBills.com, while dealing with a neck sprain. He is also in the NFL's concussion protocol.
Harris, who rushed for 15 touchdowns just two seasons ago as the lead back for the New England Patriots, has played behind James Cook and veteran Latavius Murray. All three players have averaged at least 4.1 YPC this season, heading the NFL's 12th-best rushing offense (118.2 YPG).
Cook has impressed as a first-year starter, ranking 12th among NFL running backs with 4.8 YPC (minimum 30 carries). However, Buffalo has been reluctant to place bell-cow duties on the second-year pro, as he is one of four Bills players to rush at least 22 times this season.
Fournette, 28, spent the past three seasons with the Buccaneers before being released in March. Despite battling injuries last season, the former No. 4 overall pick has averaged 1,228.5 yards from scrimmage per season since 2021.
Contending teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers could be ideal destinations for Fournette. The former ranks last in the NFL with 69.8 rushing YPG after failing to replace Samaje Perine behind starter Joe Mixon this offseason.
Austin Ekeler remains one of the league's premier dual-threat weapons, but the Bolts lack depth behind their star running back. Joshua Kelley and Isaiah Spiller have combined for a YPC average of just 3.5.
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