Ronald Jones - Page 8 - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Outshined by backfield mate Week 2 Jones rushed seven times for 23 yards and a touchdown and brought in both of his targets for four yards in the Buccaneers' 31-17 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

Impact Jones was teed up for a potentially fruitful fantasy day against the Panthers' porous run defense, and accordingly, he opened the scoring on the day with a seven-yard touchdown run with 5:42 remaining in the first quarter. However, the third-year back then saw coach Bruce Arians afford Jones' backfield mate Leonard Fournette plenty of work, leading to the latter posting a 12-103-2 line on the afternoon. Despite Arians' preseason proclamation that Jones was the clear lead back, there was still a certain degree of uncertainty until the games began, and as Week 2 demonstrated, Arians could well opt to go with a hot-hand philosophy in his backfield on the majority of weeks. Jones will look to make up for a relatively pedestrian Week 2 effort in a tough Week 3 road matchup against the Broncos next Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Watch: Ronald Jones II stiff-arms his way into endzone for Bucs Former USC Trojans running back Ronald Jones II continued to establish himself as Tampa Bay’s top back, stiff arming his way into the end zo...

SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 • USATODAY.COM

Dominates RB touches in Week 1 Jones carried the ball 17 times for 66 yards and caught two of three targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 34-23 loss to the Saints.

Impact While his overall production wasn't impressive, the key numbers for Jones might have been seven and 19, the combined touches and yards produced by Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy. Fournette could grow into a bigger role as he becomes more familiar with the Bucs' playbook, but if Jones maintains his hold on the No. 1 job, better days will be ahead for the third-year back -- perhaps as soon as Week 2 against a Panthers defense that got gashed for 139 scrimmage yards and three TDs by Josh Jacobs in its opener.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Backfield mate set for 'solid' role Jones' backfield mate Leonard Fournette is set for a "solid" Week 1 role against the Saints, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Impact Coach Bruce Arians made mention of what a quick study Fournette has proven to be with respect to the playbook since arriving last week, leading him to proclaim the former Jaguar is an important component of the Week 1 gameplan against the Saints. However, Jones is still fully expected to start and outpace his new teammate in carries, although his total workload will naturally be somewhere below what it would have been without Fournette's presence. The fact Arians also noted Fournette's receiving ability and that he partly envisions his new acquisition as a "big third-down back" also bears keeping in mind when assessing Jones' Week 1 outlook, as it's possible the two frequently divide the rushing workload versus New Orleans in a split largely dictated by down and distance.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Atop first depth chart Jones is listed as the No. 1 running back in the first edition of the Buccaneers' regular-season depth chart released Monday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Impact The third-year back will therefore start the new season in the same slotting in which he finished 2019, but the competition around him has been upgraded significantly. Gone is the willing but often pedestrian Peyton Barber -- Jones' main rival for carries last season -- and a pair of ultra-talented assets in Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy are now in the fold and slated to see touches in their own right. While McCoy is likely to primarily handle occasional change-of-pace duty and third-down work, Fournette is about as legitimate a competitor for early-down carries as it gets, and rookie third-round pick Ke'Shawn Vaughn is also waiting in the wings. Consequently, Jones naturally will have to produce in every facet each week to retain his current standing.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Leonard Fournette signing means Buccaneers don’t trust Ronald Jones II How does the Leonard Fournette signing impact Ronald Jones II's season? The Leonard Fournette signing by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was almost...

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • FANSIDED.COM

Still the starter? Coach Bruce Arians said Jones is still "our guy" in the Tampa Bay backfield, suggesting the team added Leonard Fournette to provide depth at a position where "nicks and bruises can...

Impact The words and actions don't really align, as the team first brought in Ke'Shawn Vaughn and LeSean McCoy to compete with Jones during the offseason, and now they're adding Fournette on a one-year, $2 million contract that can go up to $3.5 million with incentives (per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). Arians claims "nothing has changed" for Jones, but it's pretty clear the Tampa backfield will be messy, with no guarantee Fournette won't eventually emerge with the lead role. What's more, the team is expected to use LeSean McCoy or Dare Ogunbowale for third downs and the two-minute drill, so the target upside for Jones and Fournette appears limited. Jones is still the favorite to start Week 1 at New Orleans, but his workload won't necessarily be satisfying for fantasy managers.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Joined by Fournette in backfield Jones is facing additional backfield competition from Leonard Fournette, who joined the Buccaneers on a one-year contract Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Jones has put together a strong offseason and appeared to have earned coach Bruce Arians' confidence, but the Buccaneers nonetheless felt it necessary to pursue Fournette once he hit free agency. Arians commented earlier Wednesday that Jones "looks like he can be an all-around back," per Greg Auman of The Athletic, but Fournette's past production (two of three seasons with 1,000-plus rushing yards) surpasses the career-best 724 rushing yards that Jones churned out in 2019. With veteran LeSean McCoy and rookie third-round pick Ke'Shawn Vaughn also both in the mix, Tampa Bay likely will start the season with committee backfield that also includes Dare Ogunbowale as the favorite to handle passing-down work.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Earns coach's confidence Coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday Jones had one bad day of drops but otherwise showcased improved hands and pass blocking throughout training camp, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers'...

Impact The drop-filled practice got a lot of attention, though things simmered down once it was reported that the Bucs' other running backs also were having issues in the passing game. Jones appears to have cleaned things up over the past couple weeks, with Arians noting that the third-year pro "looks like he can be an all-around back," per Greg Auman of The Athletic. If nothing else, Jones should enter Week 1 as the starter and lead runner, opening his season with a road matchup against a Saints defense that limited running backs to 3.7 yards per carry and 64.9 rushing yards per game in 2019.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Back at practice Jones (ankle) is taking part in Sunday's practice, donning full pads in the session, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Jones' presence on the field suggests the left ankle sprain he picked up in Friday's scrimmage was only a minor concern. Assuming he enters the regular season healthy, Jones should be slated to start for the Buccaneers after coach Bruce Arians identified the 23-year-old as the team's "main guy" in the backfield in 2020.

AUGUST 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Banged up in practice Jones hurt his left foot during Friday's practice, but coach Bruce Arians doesn't think it's anything serious, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact James Palmer of NFL Network reports that Jones was walking around after practice, albeit with ice and a wrap over his foot. None of the initial reports hint at a major issue, but we'll start to take notice if Jones is held out of practice over the weekend and into the upcoming week. Any missed time would free up more first-team reps for LeSean McCoy or Ke'Shawn Vaughn.

AUGUST 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Struggling with drops Jones and the other Bucs running backs continued to struggle with drops Monday morning, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Impact Coach Bruce Arians commented on the backfield pass-catching struggles after Sunday's practice, in which Jones was guilty of at least two drops, per Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times. Smith notes that Jones had an impressive catch in 1-on-1 drills Monday morning, but the general pattern coming from Bucs camp suggests his receiving work has been subpar. It sounds like the other Tampa Bay running backs haven't been much better, with the possible exception of passing-down specialist Dare Ogunbowale. While it increasingly seems unlikely for Jones to take away some of the work that went to Ogunbowale last season, we do have Arians on record referring to RoJo as the "main guy" in his backfield. Jones figures to enter Week 1 as the lead runner, but he'll probably be looking over his shoulder if he doesn't start the season strong.

AUGUST 24, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

'Pressure Makes Diamonds': Ronald Jones II Ready to Step Up as Brady's Go-to RB He lets his mind wander, if only for a moment, fresh off another suffocating afternoon this offseason at the "Thrill Hill" in Scottsdale, Ar...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • BLEACHERREPORT.COM

Early camp standout Jones has impressed as both a runner and receiver in early training camp practices, Carmen Vitali of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact The third-year pro was recently anointed as the clear-cut lead back by coach Bruce Arians, but Jones is doing anything but resting on his laurels. Vitali had previously reported Jones, who spent plenty of time this offseason working on his receiving skills, looked like he had much surer hands while hauling in some throws from Brady in Sunday's no-contact session, and the USC product also ripped off a long run after breaking free up the middle in Monday's padded practice. Jones naturally won't have preseason games this summer with which to cement his hold on the top job, but he may simply need to maintain his current caliber of performance to ensure he heads into a Week 1 matchup against the Saints at the top of the depth chart.

AUGUST 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Getting receiving tips from Brady Jones, who entered training camp primed for the lead role in the Buccaneers' remade backfield, has been getting early advice from Tom Brady on pass-catching technique out of the ba...

Impact Given Brady's extensive track record of success throwing to his backs, Jones is undoubtedly aware of how important it will be for him to take the next step as a receiver this season. To that end, the third-year back has already been absorbing knowledge from Brady, who Jones says has advised him to run his routes low to the ground and "run my routes like I've already got the ball." The USC product is looking to elevate his game another notch as a runner as well after rushing for 724 yards and six touchdowns at 4.2 yards per carry last season, and Laine reports Jones has bulked up to 225 pounds in his quest for more power. Meanwhile, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports Jones has also focused on upping his knowledge of what defenses like to do in certain scenarios, and that he's honed in on learning his blocking assignments better after being pulled out of a game last season for whiffing in pass protection.

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Primed for lead role Coach Bruce Arians said Jones will be the "main guy" in the Tampa Bay backfield, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Impact The competition for carries consists of rookie third-round pick Ke'Shawn Vaughn and 32-year-old LeSean McCoy. The Bucs apparently expect Jones to hold both of them off for the lead role, but the team could still feature a committee backfield of sorts, potentially subbing in Vaughn or McCoy for some carries and Dare Ogunbowale or Raymond Calais for passing situations. Jones packed on some weight this offseason to prepare for larger workloads, reportedly getting up to around 225 pounds.

AUGUST 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Looking good for lead job Jones likely will enter Week 1 as a starter, according to ESPN.com's Jenna Laine.

Impact Rookie third-round pick Ke'Shawn Vaughn should still be in the mix for carries, but his shot at the lead role right out of the gate took a big hit after the NFL canceled offseason programs and preseason games. Jones has been preparing for the possibility of a much larger workload in his third NFL season, focusing on his pass-catching skills and bulking up to around 225 pounds. While he should have the initial advantage, Jones could lose ground in a hurry if he fails to impress early in the season. There's also a chance the Tampa backfield fails to provide a reliable fantasy producer altogether, especially if either Dare Ogunbowale or Raymond Calais steals a large chunk of the receiving work.

JULY 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Working diligently on receiving Jones is up to 225 pounds and working diligently with trainer Luke Neal on his pass catching this offseason, Luke Easterling of SI.com reports.

Impact The third-year back has some extra motivation in the form of the Buccaneers' selection of Vanderbilt product Ke'Shawn Vaughn in the third round of April's draft, with the latter certainly a threat to put a dent into Jones' workload. The projected positional competition aside, Jones was likely to focus on improving his pass-catching acumen this offseason anyhow, considering his limitations in that area last season often kept him off the field on third downs in favor of Dare Ogunbowale. Neal recently posted multiple videos of Jones working on his routes on his Twitter account, including one with the USC product running a deep post and making an impressive catch approximately 20 yards downfield.

MAY 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Bucs' running game shows signs of life with 2nd-year RB Ronald Jones II leading way

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running game showing is starting to show signs of life with 2nd-year RB Ronald Jones II leading the way.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2019

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Bucs' running game shows signs of life with 2nd-year RB Ronald Jones II leading way