The week last season when former LSU All-American running back Leonard Fournette realized he needed to accept the fact he wasn’t “The Man” but rather a part in a solid rotation of Tampa Bay Bucs running backs, his pro career took off.
He was a huge contributor in the Bucs’ run to win the Super Bowl, earning the nickname Playoff Lenny.” He has been even better this season after signing a 1-year $3.25 million contract in the off-season.
He scored a pro career high four TDs Sunday on runs of 1, 4 and 28 yards and on a 4-yard pass from QB Tom Brady as the Bucs won 38-31 at Indianapolis.
For the day, he had 100 yards rushing on 17 carries and 7 catches for 31 receiving yards.
“The coaches and my teammates trust me,” Fournette said. “But you have to earn it through reps in practice, staying after practice working. We did an excellent job (today) of rotating the backs and I had fresh legs at the end (of the game).”
So far this season in 11 games, Fournette has rushed for 621 yards and seven TDs as well as having 51 pass receptions for 354 yards and 1 TD.
“Lenny gives us that dual threat back there,” Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians said. “When he catches a 5-yard pass, he usually gets 5 or 6 more. That’s a great security blanket.”
Here’s what all former Tigers did in the NFL’s Week 12:
THANKSGIVING DAY
Chicago Bears 16, Detroit Lions 14
Lions: DE Michael Brockers 1 tackle (1 solo).
Las Vegas Raiders 36, Dallas Cowboys 33
Raiders: TE Foster Moreau 1 catch for 3 receiving yards.
Cowboys: LB Jabril Cox (injured reserve); OT La’el Collins no stats.
Buffalo Bills 31, New Orleans Saints 6
Bills: LB Tre’Davious White 1 pass breakup, tore ACL out for the rest of the season; LS Reid Ferguson snapped for 3 punts, 1 of 1 field goals, 4 of 4 extra points.
Saints: OLB Kwon Alexander 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 PBU, 1 interception; C William Clapp no stats.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Tampa Bay Bucs 38, Indianapolis Colts 13
Bucs: RB Leonard Fournette 100 yards rushing and 3 TDs on 17 carries, 7 catches for 31 receiving yards and 1 TD; LB Devin White 3 tackles (3 solo); ILB Kevin Minter 3 tackles (3 solo); WR Cyril Grayson (practice squad); CB Rashard Robinson (practice squad).
New York Jets at Houston Texans
No players on either roster
New York Giants 13, Philadelphia Eagles 7
Eagles: LB JaCoby Stevens (practice squad), CB Kary Vincent Jr. (inactive list).
Miami Dolphins 33, Carolina Panthers 10
Panthers: CB Donte’ Jackson 11 tackles (10 solo), 1 PBU; WR Terrace Marshall Jr. (inactive list); DT Frank Herron (reserve suspended by NFL commissioner; TE Stephen Sullivan (practice squad).
Dolphins: LB Duke Riley 3 tackles (2 solo); LS Blake Ferguson snapped for 4 punts, 2 of 2 field goals, 3 of 4 extra points.
New England Patriots 36, Tennessee Titans 13
Titans: CB Kristian Fulton 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 PBU; ST Tory Carter no stats; WR Racey McMath (injured reserve).
Patriots: DT Davon Godchaux 7 tackles (6 solo), 1 QB hit; CB Jalen Mills 2 tackles (2 solo), 2 PBU; DE Tashawn Bower (practice squad).
Cincinnati Bengals 41, Pittsburgh Steelers 10
Steelers: OG Trai Turner started for an offensive line that allowed 2 sacks and helped produce 301 yards total offense including 250 passing and 51 rushing.
Bengals: QB Joe Burrow completed 20 of 24 for 190 passing yards,1 TD and 1 interception, also ran for 8 yards and a TD on 1 carry; WR Ja’Marr Chase 3 catches for 39 yards; TE Thad Moss no stats; DT Tyler Shelvin (inactive list).
Atlanta Falcons 21, Jacksonville Jaguars 14
Falcons: WR Russell Gage 6 catches for 62 receiving yards and one TD; LB Deion Jones (inactive list).
Jaguars: DE/LB K’Lavon Chaisson no stats; WR DJ Chark Jr. fractured his left ankle and is out for the season; OT Badara Traore (practice squad).
Denver Broncos 28, Los Angeles Chargers 14
Chargers: DT Breiden Fehoko 2 tackles.
Broncos: C Lloyd Cushenberry Jr. started for an offensive line that allowed 1 sack and helped produce 302 yards total offense including 155 passing and 147 rushing.
Green Bay Packers 36, Los Angeles Rams 28
Rams: OT Andrew Whitworth started for 230th time in 234 NFL career games started for an offensive line that allowed 2 sacks and helped produce 353 yards total offense including 285 passing and 68 rushing; WR Odell Beckham Jr. 5 catches for 81 receiving yards and 1 TD.
San Francisco 49ers 34, Minnesota Vikings 26
Vikings: WR Justin Jefferson 4 catches for 83 receiving yards, 1 of 1 for 24 passing yards; CB Patrick Peterson 5 tackles (5 solo), 1 TFL; DE Danielle Hunter (injured reserve).
49ers: DL Arden Key 2 tackles.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Baltimore Ravens 16, Cleveland Browns 10
Browns: S Grant Delpit 2 tackles (1 solo), 1 PBU, 1 interception returned for 5 yards; WR Jarvis Landry 6 catches for 111 receiving yards, lost a fumble; CB Greedy Williams no stats; LB Jacob Phillips (injured reserve).
Ravens: LB Patrick Queen 8 tackles (8 solo), 2 TFL.
MONDAY NIGHT
Seattle Seahawks at Washington
Seahawks: S Jamal Adams; OG Damien Lewis; DT Al Woods; C Ethan Pocic no stats; QB Danny Etling (practice squad).
Washington: OT Saahdiq Charles (inactive list).
OPEN DATES
Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs
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