Giovani Bernard

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• Buccaneers' Giovani Bernard: Staying with Tampa

  04/01/2022 •

  Bernard is re-signing with the Buccaneers on a one-year contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 30-year-old RB reportedly fielded offers from multiple teams before deciding to stay in Tampa Bay, where he had eight carries and 23 catches in 12 games last season. Bernard should continue to have a role on third downs, though Leonard Fournette -- also re-signed this offseason -- has proven capable of handling much of the receiving workload out of the backfield. The Bucs did lose Ronald Jones to the Chiefs in March, but he and Bernard were never competing for the same snaps anyway.

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• Buccaneers' Giovani Bernard: Quiet end to season

  01/24/2022 •

  Bernard did not log a rush attempt and failed to bring in his only target during the Buccaneers' 30-27 loss to the Rams in their NFC divisional-round matchup Sunday. He also returned one punt for two yards. The veteran running back logged just nine snaps from scrimmage with Leonard Fournette (hamstring) back in the fold, and no other running back but the latter ended up seeing any carries. Bernard was serviceable when given opportunities this past season, even though those were few and far between. The 30-year-old rushed just eight times for 58 yards, but he did bring in 23 of 29 targets for 123 yards and three touchdowns across 12 regular-season games. He also enjoyed his most productive performance by far during the wild-card win over the Eagles, when he rushed 13 times for 44 yards and a touchdown and added another 39 yards on five grabs. Bernard is due to head back into unrestricted free agency at the start of the new league year, and it remains to be seen if he and the Buccaneers will be interested in having him remain in Tampa.

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• Buccaneers' Giovani Bernard: Faces added competition

  01/22/2022 •

  Bernard's teammate, Leonard Fournette (hamstring), has been activated off IR by the Buccaneers ahead of Sunday's playoff game against the Rams, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports. Meanwhile, Ronald Jones (ankle) remains out this week, but with Fournette set to see his first game action since Week 15, both Bernard and Ke'Shawn Vaughn -- who shared backfield work in the team's wild-card win over the Eagles last weekend -- figure to see decreased volume Sunday. Though Bernard could still potentially make his mark in a change-of-pace role, his divisional-round fantasy ceiling takes a hit with Fournette's return to the mix.

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• Buccaneers' Giovani Bernard: Avoids injury designation

  01/21/2022 •

  Bernard (hip/knee) doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Rams, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports. Bernard's full practice participation Friday put any doubts about his availability to rest. Meanwhile, Ronald Jones (ankle) has been ruled out and Leonard Fournette (hamstring) remains on IR. A decision on Fournette's status will come down before 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, at which time it will be made clear whether Bernard will work as part of a three-man backfield or split touches with Ke'Shawn Vaughn, as was the case in the wild-card round win over the Eagles. Bernard thrived as part of a two-man timeshare against Philadelphia, totaling 83 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on 18 touches.

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• Buccaneers' Giovani Bernard: Gets in limited work Thursday

  01/20/2022 •

  Bernard (hip/knee) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. Despite having a cap on his reps in back-to-back sessions to begin the week, Bernard is the third biggest question mark in the Buccaneers backfield. Leonard Fournette has practiced both days this week but still is on IR due to a strained hamstring, while Ronald Jones was absent both days as he tends to an ankle injury. The team has until 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday to bring back Fournette to the active roster, but if he and Jones can't suit up Sunday versus the Rams, Bernard and Ke'Shawn Vaughn likely will share the RB load this weekend, assuming Bernard is active.

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