Leonard Fournette “doubtful” for the Jaguars finale

The Jacksonville Jaguars have listed running back Leonard Fournette as “doubtful” for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Same news, just a different day for Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette. The second-year star is once again dealing with an injury that will likely keep him out of the season finale against the Houston Texans.

Fournette, who missed the majority of the first half of the season with a hamstring injury and then was suspended for a game against the Indianapolis Colts is now dealing with foot and ankles issues that have kept him from practicing this week at TIAA Bank Field.

The fourth pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has done little to help a Jaguars rushing attack that finished first in the NFL last season with 141 yards per game but has struggled mightily this year.

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It has been a frustrating season for the team, that still continues to deal with injuries all over the offense.

It’s an injury this week that seemed to get worse as head coach Doug Marrone explained this week when he met with the media Friday afternoon.

"“He practiced on Wednesday a little bit, was hobbling around, and he couldn’t practice [the last two days], so I would say, ‘Yeah.’ Right? Makes sense. he said.”"

The Jaguars also listed running back Carlos Hyde as questionable after he suffered a knee injury in practice on Friday. T.J. Yeldon and David Williams may be the only running backs available on Sunday afternoon in Houston.

Leonard Fournette was once again expected to be the focus of the Jaguars offense this season but that idea took a nosedive when he suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the team’s season opener at the New York Giants. Yeldon has been Jacksonville’s leading rusher.

Per ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco, there are concerns about Fournette’s future with the organization and whether the franchise can build the offense around him next season and beyond. There has also been chatter on 1010 XL AM radio here in Jacksonville about the team possibly trading him this offseason.

"“There are legitimate questions about Fournette’s maturity, commitment to football, conditioning, behavior, and production,” DiRocco writes.“He’s been suspended and fined, and some inside the organization wonder if he’s willing to put in the work required to be the kind of impact player they envisioned he would become.”"

Last season, Fournette played in 13 games, ran for 1,040 yards and helped the Jaguars get to the AFC Championship game. He became only the second rookie in team history to top 1,000 yards rushing.

He was ejected from the game against the Buffalo Bills for running onto the field and getting into a fight with Shaq Lawson. The league decided that Fournette violated its unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules.

Now comes the realization this franchise must work with Fournette to not only stay healthy for 2019 but to also work with him off the field to make sure he is ready to commit to helping the team win football games.

"“Fournette hasn’t produced when he’s been in the lineup, though the fact that the offensive line has been decimated by injuries is a significant reason for that (four of the five starters are on injured reserve, and two of the current starters weren’t on the team until October). He has rushed for 439 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry,” DiRocco added."