“Insider Reveals Decision Behind Bills’ Exclusion of Leonard Fournette from Playoff Roster”
As the Buffalo Bills prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers in a wild-card game on Monday, Leonard Fournette, affectionately known as Playoff Lenny, will be relegated to the sidelines.
On January 14, the Bills revealed that two players would be promoted from the practice squad: wide receiver Andy Isabella and linebacker A.J. Klein. Despite joining the team in late October, Fournette, a running back, has had limited playing time and will continue to stay on the practice squad, making him ineligible for the matchup against the Steelers.
We’ve elevated WR Andy Isabella and LB A.J. Klein from the practice squad for tomorrow’s game. #PITvsBUF pic.twitter.com/2NXIeaDvwF
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 14, 2024
As per one insider’s explanation, Fournette’s absence this week resulted from a numerical calculation that led to an unfavorable outcome.
Leonard Fournette Excluded
Shortly after the Bills inked the deal with Fournette on October 30, head coach Sean McDermott hinted at the possibility of Fournette’s imminent inclusion in the active roster. Fournette’s signing followed the placement of veteran back Damien Harris on injured reserve due to a neck injury, and it was anticipated that Fournette would bring a seasoned presence to the backfield.
Contrary to expectations, the Bills opted to promote running back Ty Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster, and he secured the No. 2 position behind second-year
Fournette made minimal offensive contributions during his limited playing time this season, accumulating 40 yards on 12 carries.
Bills reporter Chris Brown pointed out that Johnson is expected to make a comeback after recovering from a head injury sustained in the January 7 victory against the Miami Dolphins, leading to Fournette’s exclusion.
“The #Bills elevated WR Andy Isabella and LB A.J. Klein from the practice squad for tomorrow’s game vs Pittsburgh,” Brown wrote on X. “With RB Leonard Fournette not elevated this means Ty Johnson is good to assume his normal role as he returns from a concussion.”
According to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550, the promotion of A.J. Klein could suggest another injury in the linebacker position for the Bills, further limiting space for Fournette on the roster.
“This means RB Leonard Fournette was NOT elevated. Could be an indication about Tyrel Dodson’s availability,” Capaccio wrote on X.
Lenny’s Triumph in the Postseason
As highlighted by Chrissy Froyd from the Sporting News, Fournette garnered the moniker “Playoff Lenny” following a series of postseason achievements with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Fournette rushed for 242 yards with four touchdowns in three playoff games with the Jaguars in the 2017-18 season,” Froyd wrote. “His next postseason appearance came in 2020-21 with the Bucs, when he totaled 448 total yards and four TDs in four games, including 135 total yards and a TD in Tampa’s 31-9 Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. That season, his yards per carry jumped from 3.8 in the regular season to 4.7 in the playoffs.”
The Bills might find themselves heavily dependent on the running game in Monday’s clash against the Steelers. The contest was postponed by a day due to a hazardous winter storm, which deposited multiple feet of snow and subjected the region to strong winds. The conditions are anticipated to remain challenging when the game commences at 4:30 p.m. ET.
