Jaguars Leonard Fournette Still on Team Injury Report
By David Levin
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette was still listed as “questionable” for Sunday’s game when the team released its final injury report on Friday.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette and the coaching staff says the star running back is making progress but is still dealing with a hamstring issue that has kept him out of the last two games.
This week, when the Jaguars released their final injury report, Fournette’s name was still on it, marked as “questionable” for Sunday’s game at home with the New York Jets. Jacksonville could use their bell cow back this week, but hamstring injuries are peculiar and take time to heal.
"“Two players key to the Jaguars’ running game – running back Leonard Fournette and right guard A.J. Cann – likely will be game-time decisions, with status of both uncertain entering the weekend,” Jaguars.com senior writer John Oehser wrote on Friday."
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Cann’s return is equally important for the continuity of the offensive line and its protection of quarterback Blake Bortles. Fournette’s injury, however, is the one everyone is watching and waiting to see what happens.
Running back T.J. Yeldon has been on the injury report all week as well with an ankle injury but was not part of the list on Friday afternoon, which means the fourth-year back could play this weekend and start if his teammate cannot give it a go. Jacksonville will also use running back Corey Grant in the backfield.
"“It’s tricky with hamstrings,” Fournette said when he met with the media. “You feel good one day, then something else happens. It all depends on you and your mindset.”"
It’s also an injury the Jaguars cannot afford to rush their 2017 first-round draft pick back from too soon and risk further damage to the player and the running game.
Fournette led Jacksonville in rushing last season with 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. Yeldon played well when replacing him in the lineup, twice due to injury and once as a healthy scratch last season.
Yeldon leads Jacksonville in rushing through the first three games of 2018.
When Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone met with the media following practice on Friday, he said both Fournette and Cann are “50-50” to play on Sunday. The game with the Jets is the last of a three-game stretch at TIAA Bank Field before Jacksonville travels to Kansas City next week.
"“You never know,” Marrone said. “Today’s not obviously as physical a day as it is on Thursday. We’ll see where they are strength-wise and stretching and just monitor them during the next 48 hours.”"
Next. Jaguars Face the Jets: Three bold predictions for Sunday. dark
The good news is Fournette has increased his workload in practice as this week has moved forward. He was limited Wednesday and Thursday but was a full participant on Friday morning.