Jan 23, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams in a NFC Divisional playoff football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
NFLBy Reice Shipley on

It was an offseason filled with question marks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went through the brief retirement of Tom Brady only for him to decide to un-retire just a month later and return for his 23rd NFL season.

This will likely make the Buccaneers among the top teams in the league next year. But some extremely concerning reports have emerged about a huge part of the team’s offense just weeks before NFL training camps are set to begin.

Buccaneers beat reporter Rick Stroud discussed Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette on his podcast Friday, and said that Fournette currently weighs around 260 pounds, over 30 pounds more than he normally weighs during the season.

“The last time we saw Leonard Fournette he was about a donut shy of 260,” said Stroud. “He certainly didn’t look like a guy who could play every down.”

Tampa Bay signed Fournette to a three-year contract extension back in March that will keep him with the Buccaneers through the 2024-25 NFL season.

This is definitely something that could be a huge problem for both the Buccaneers and Fournette, and the team’s coaching staff has certainly taken notice of his poor physique this offseason.

“Coaches were not happy, and that’s an understatement, when he didn’t participate in the OTAs, but then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing d*** near 260,” Stroud added. “And that’s not a good sign for a guy that you just spent a three-year contract on.”

Many are shocked to hear these reports and believe that this could greatly impact his performance next year.

Fournette will need to get that weight on track quickly if he wants to get back in the good graces of the Buccaneers’ coaching staff moving forward.

There is definitely plenty of time for Fournette to get back in shape for the upcoming season. But we have seen the likes of Eddie Lacy as a cautionary tale of poor physique leading to a stark downfall of production in the NFL.

[Pro Football Talk, Rick Stroud]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

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