Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians is keeping a positive outlook on running back Ronald Jones.
“‘Ro’ is getting better (but) he did not practice today. I anticipate and hope he can go tomorrow,” Arians said Wednesday.
Jones, 23, was active for Saturday’s wild-card game against the Washington Football Team, however he aggravated a quad injury prior to the contest.
Fellow running back Leonard Fournette stepped up in his absence, rushing 19 times for 93 yards and a touchdown in Tampa Bay’s 31-23 win over Washington.
It’s too early to tell how the carries will be distributed on Sunday when the Buccaneers visit the New Orleans Saints in their NFC divisional round game.
Jones led the team in carries (192), rushing yards (978) and rushing touchdowns (seven).
Fournette, 25, had 97 rushes for 367 yards and six scores as part of the platoon.
“Yeah, I’m good. I’m fresh to be honest,” Fournette said of how he feels at this point of the year. “I think my total carries for this year is around 100 — usually around this time I’m at 300-something to be honest.
“Like I say, ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ I’m just happy to be a part of the team. (I am) doing my job to help the team get to where we want to be and what we want to win.”
LeSean McCoy, 32, returned to practice on Wednesday after missing time with an illness. The veteran would be in line for additional backup work should Jones sit out versus the Saints.
