Buccaneers Running Back Exits With Hip Injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette is having a tough day. After ceding starting duties to rookie Rachaad White in his team's Week 10 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, the veteran back exited in the third quarter with a hip injury and did not return.

RB Leonard Fournette III is doubtful to return (hip). pic.twitter.com/aj9YSk2ljQ
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 13, 2022

Fournette touched the ball 15 times for 58 yards from scrimmage on the day despite not getting the start. Should he be unavailable in the coming weeks, the Bucs will lean heavily on White while occasionally mixing in third-year running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn in relief.

Fournette had dominated touches for a struggling Bucs backfield through nine weeks. His 121 rushes and 42 receptions led all running backs by enormous margins. White was second in both categories with 38 rushes and 20 carries.

Despite Fournette's sizeable role, the Bucs could be okay changing things up for a while. They ranked last in the league in rushing yards and rushing yards per attempt through nine weeks with Fournette as their centerpiece. White was solid in his increased role for the Bucs in Sunday's 21-16 win over the Seahawks, totalling 105 yards on 22 attempts.