The Leonard Fournette Hamstring Injury
September 15th, 2022
Bucs fans saw it play out Sunday night with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game.
Leonard Fournette ran left as guards Luke Goedeke and Shaq Mason pulled in that direction and opened major holes. The play led announcer Cris Collinsworth to call it “a mauling,” referring to the all-night job of run blocking done by the Bucs in Dallas.
Then at the end of the 14-yard run, Fournette pulled up lame out of bounds and was seen doing that hamstring hop that many players do when the muscle is injured. He left the game and did not return.
The game was nearly out of reach and the injury didn’t get much attention on the broadcast. Playoff Lenny also was a happy guy in the locker room and Joe talked to him then. And then Fournette appeared on yesterday’s injury report after being “limited” in practice.
Joe is bummed out by the many injuries that appeared among Bucs receivers but not too worried. That includes the hamstring issues of Chris Godwin and Russell Gage, and knee problems for Julio Jones and Breshad Perriman. The Bucs will find enough healthy bodies at receiver and Scotty Miller can help off the bench. But Playoff Lenny is not replaceable.
A Week 1 hamstring injury for Fournette has to be handled perfectly for a long season. Hamstrings can be unpredictable, and Fournette certainly isn’t a typical body type. He also blew a hamstring late last season and missed games — even on TV.
Joe is praying to the football gods for the Bucs to have just the right touch with Fournette, who Joe hopes isn’t too eager to say “I’m good,” so he can play against his hometown Saints.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:27 am
Regarding Lenny being irreplaceable, I respectfully disagree. You may not get exactly the same thing from White, Sneak, etc but use those two if he can’t go, and they’ll get production. If there’s one thing life has taught me, EVERYONE is replaceable.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:28 am
“Joe is bummed out be not really worried about the many injuries that appeared among Bucs receivers…”
Please fix this. Seriously, I have no idea what the sentence is trying to say.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:29 am
Joe- Don’t worry. I saw Leonard yesterday and he was walking just fine. Looked happy and no trouble at all.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:38 am
Big difference from walking to running
September 15th, 2022 at 9:41 am
I have been watching professional football since 1964 with the Lions, Bucs and Seahawks.
Maybe it is just bad luck, but I can not recall any other team I followed having so many Hamstring Injuries.
I sure hope that Lenny is ok, because we will need him Sunday.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:41 am
When you have an injured hamstring, you can usually walk just fine. (if it’s real bad, you may limp a little).
The problem with hammys is you feel better before you ARE better. You could stretch it, jog with it, run with it and feel totally fine, then actually play a pull it again. That’s because no jogging or running completely simulates the intensity of actually playing.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:42 am
Entirely too many hamstring injuries on this team. When they stretch, are they really stretching to release?
September 15th, 2022 at 9:42 am
With the holes our Oline opened up, any one of our RBs could do well…..we’ve got a good RB room.
I don’t know if Gio even got a snap vs Dallas & Vaughn was inactive….
The injury to Gage is particularly disturbing…….he’s been injured since he arrived.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:46 am
Maybe Gage is the new Sweeney.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:47 am
This is not the weak Dallas D Line this week.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Oh please the falcons ran all over the saints defense.
September 15th, 2022 at 9:57 am
These hamstrings are a serious problem for this team, they have more than their share. Seems indicative of improper training techniques, stretching, diet or something but there are too many every year to just be coincidental
September 15th, 2022 at 10:06 am
Sneak is a good one cut runner and should be able to have some production if called upon. White started off slow, but seemed to get better toward the end of the game last week, so perhaps we will see more from him now that he’s got the 1st game jitters over with.
September 15th, 2022 at 10:25 am
Limited could me he stepped out for 1 play.
September 15th, 2022 at 10:26 am
mean*
September 15th, 2022 at 10:32 am
Agree with Just Sayin – Too many hamstring injuries.. Maybe the team trainers need to seek Dr. Brady’s advice.
September 15th, 2022 at 10:34 am
I happened upon the Steelers injury report from yesterday and they had a few ankle injuries. Maybe teams use a catchall term for most of the non serious stuff. Certainly makes it easier to keep track of when you sit in front of cameras. Something like
: coach, regarding the shot taken to the nads by player x in the 4th quarter, do you know what the injury is and if he will be ready for this week’s game?
: Hey Joe’s, yeah it’s a hammy. We’ll wait for the MRI to make a decision.
September 15th, 2022 at 10:37 am
The NUMBER ONE reason Lenny can be replaced. #41
The NUMBER TWO reason Lenny can be replaced. #88
Bucs will go for another BucFity this week on the ground. BET!!!
Heck, might even see a long TD or two from his back ups. Just because they are faster and more elusive.
Just saying, not worried if Lenny can’t go. I prefer he did because he is much better in the passing game at this point. BUT we are not a passing team right now. Not for the next 3 games at least.
Sure we will still pass. ME should get close to 150 and 2 this week. But not worried if Lenny cant go.
REST UP Big Fella. The TEAM has got this.
September 15th, 2022 at 10:45 am
As far as Gage is concerned. Yall must have tuned out in the 4th quarter. Brady and Gage has a couple nice connections.
If not for the fact that we just needed to run the clock out. I am 100%% positive Gage would have taken over in the passing game at that point.
It was game 1. You don’t want to show all of your cards but you do want to see what you have. We did that with Gage late in the game.
Again, this will become OBVIOUS in about 4 weeks. Trust me, I have peered into the looking glass. 🙂
September 15th, 2022 at 11:37 am
@Joe you have access to the team and training staff. Have you ever asked why it seems that every year this team has hamstring issues? I don’t closely follow any other team so I’m not sure if this is common but from playing although not at this level it sure seems this team has more hamstring issues than might be considered “normal”
No, it’s reasonably common but the Bucs likely trend more than most. Highly doubtful team staff would reveal a truthful answer and/or have an exact reason.–Joe
September 15th, 2022 at 11:54 am
The reason is probably as simple as the team is in Tampa. Hydration is an issue in such a sweltering hot environment, and probably leads to pulled hamstrings.
September 15th, 2022 at 11:57 am
Russell Gage has been “day to day” with this hamstring injury from the moment he first walked into the building. It’s ridiculous. If he still can’t go put the SOB on IR and open up a roster spot.
September 15th, 2022 at 12:07 pm
CrackWise – I saw the same thing. I was excited about Gage at the end of the game. He played great.
There is only one ball. TB12 has to feed M1k3, Julio, and Godwin when they’re healthy. The other guys just have to be ready.
September 15th, 2022 at 12:28 pm
Lenny won the NFL Way to Play award this week as announced by GMFB.
It goes to the player who exemplifies the proper way to play.
Lenny as the winner gets a letter from the commissioner and $2,500 to give to the high school of his choice.
Congrats Lenny!
September 15th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
The trainers suck and they did last season as well. How many hamstring injuries can one team have? They are NOT stretching properly. Damn!!!
September 15th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
I’ll tell you what’s OBVIOUS. It’s Obvious that the strength and conditioning group at the Advent Health Center needs to be SHOWN THE DOOR! I’ve personally been pointing out the concerns I’ve had since before pre season with nearly the entire receiving core and offensive line LITTERD all up and down the side lines!
This is certainly NOT a brand new development. This is ON GOING. I was on the soap box then and NOTHING has changed. I realize nobody at 1 Bucs going to worry themselves with my personal concerns but COME ON MAN!
Since the human body in these terms, have CLEAR methods already laid out and explained in detail how to avoid these injuries. I hear that it could be as simple as proper stretching and hydration much less what these guys are supposed to be getting paid for with AT LEAST six figures attached. The local gyms trainers and their basic understanding of how to avoid this type of damage (“Pulled Hamstrings”) can be paid 12 per hour for what the Bucs are paying these guys and gals hundreds of thousands of Waisted dollars. With “supposed” new and advanced techniques, technology and advanced machinery to ENSURE that these season jeopardizing injuries DO NOT HAPPEN!
There is personal responsibility to do your best not to damage yourself with poor technique and simply not drinking enough water, BUT I just keep going back to the what adds up to multi million dollar pay checks and watching our team members dropping like “POISONED FLYS”!
Sabotage? At this point I’ve gotta take the notion a little more seriously. It is at least fairly rare for Professional Athletes to damage themselves this way. How many Profesional Athletes with the exact same damage for what’s become months for the Buccaneers? Seriously, something stinks around 1 Buc Place and it’s THE TRAINERS!
Go Bucs! Go figure out what’s going on!
September 15th, 2022 at 2:32 pm
Hamstring injuries occur when the quadriceps muscle that contracts to move the leg forward overpowers the hamstring. Athletes playing in higher-than-normal heat and humidity could be at greater risk to injury because those conditions cause greater fatigue, Casa said.Jun 19, 2014 2014/06/19
Hamstring injuries common in heat
Now we need to see if it is the same with Miami Dolphins and Jax Jags
September 15th, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Agreed with Joe. Fournette is too important. And for me its what he adds to the passing game. First you have the block on Parsons. Look up Brady highlights, Fournette throwing a key block is a major part to this offense.
2nd Fournette as a pass catcher is extremely vital. He is underappreciated in this area but the volume is elite. The number of times Founette converts a catch into a 1st down is mind boggling when you compare it to any other RB. That is not something you can take off the field and think is not a major blow to the offense.
September 15th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
The injuries reports are ridiculous all over the league – it’s almost like having those preseason games helps get guys in shape for the regular season, and going from basically 0 to 100 is getting guys hurt.
September 15th, 2022 at 4:44 pm
Obvisous. With all due respect you sound like a nut job. Your mad bdcause the OL got hirt? Yeah bro, we had a couple of guys get their knees bent backwards. Theres no amount of training on earth that can teach your knees to bend like that?
Im not really sure what your complaining about with WRs TBH. Nobody has missed any games yet, simmer down.
Mike is playing as he does every year, its possible we can thank the trainers for keeping Mike in Football shape and consistly ready for Gamedays every year……..Maybe we could say good job with Chris as well? He looked pretty danged good to me. Thats probabbly not normal in Game 1 off of ACL surgery.
Sounds like you imagined this issue
September 15th, 2022 at 9:37 pm
I am sick and tired hearing about all these darn injuries so early in the season, going back even to the pre-season. What in the world is going on with the Bucs? Why so many injuries? Are the players that out of shape? They could be in the Super Bowl if they can get over these injuries!