Leonard Fournette has been running for big yards for over a decade now. It's only natural that he'd be tired of standing still.
Fournette is entering his sixth week on the Buffalo Bills' practice squad after signing with the team on Halloween. Added to the group after the team lost Damien Harris for the year, the team has instead used Latavius Murray and Ty Johnson as James Cook's spell options. That triumvirate, combined with the dual-threat antics of quarterback Josh Allen, ranks second in the NFL with an average of 165 yards over the past three games.
In a one-on-one with Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, Fournette says he's ready to contribute when ... or, at this point, if ... his number is called, though he feels like his relative exile could help him in the long run.
“I’m comfortable, up to speed,” Fournette said. “I’m ready, man, just waiting on my opportunity. Of course, (this is) my first time really being in this position, so you know, I have my days. I think it’s humbling me, testing me, my faith and everything, but I’m getting better.”
At the time of his arrival, Forunette seemed like a strong complement to a championship-contending group but things have drastically changed for the Bills (6-6), who sit at the outskirts of the AFC playoff picture as the Christmas season rolls in. Buffalo's been through enough holiday drama to last a full season: in the midst of their tumble, the Bills booted offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, which potentially delayed Forunette's promotion.
The time off is probably getting to Fournette, who played 16 games and tallied 668 yards with Tampa Bay last season: the rusher declared he was "ready to Hoop [sic]" on X earlier this week and Buffalo's road gets no easier with a trip to Kansas City looming fresh off their bye week come Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS).
Unlike other New York-based situations in the AFC East, don't expect Fournette to raise further grievances about his playing time.
"You have your days where you feel like you can be out there,” Fournette said. “Of course, it’s God’s timing. You don’t want to try to rush things, so I’m just happy to have a chance to be playing with these guys, a great group of young men at the end of the day.
"I have my days, you know, but it is what it is, just preparing me for something bigger. We have a long season, so we’ll see.”
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