JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars deactivated running back Leonard Fournette for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati for violating a team rule, which…
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars deactivated running back Leonard Fournette for Sunday’s game against Cincinnati for violating a team rule, which reportedly had to do with his absence from a team picture.
The Jaguars (4-3) made the surprising announcement 90 minutes before kickoff. The team did not say what Fournette did to draw coach Doug Marrone’s punishment, but ESPN reported that among the reasons he was suspended for a game was that he missed the team photo earlier this week.
“Leonard Fournette is not playing in today’s game due to an infraction of a team rule,” Marrone said in a statement. “This has been addressed internally and further details will not be made public.”
Fournette leads the team with 596 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. He missed Jacksonville’s last game, two weeks ago at Indianapolis, because of a sprained right ankle, but he practiced all week and had been scheduled to return against the Bengals.
He needed one touchdown to become the first player in NFL history to score in his first seven games. He can still set the record next week against the Los Angeles Chargers and former Jaguars coach Gus Bradley.
Chris Ivory will start in Fournette’s place and will share the load with T. J. Yeldon.
The Jaguars also will be without right guard A. J. Cann because of a triceps injury. Center Brandon Linder, returning from a three-week absence because of illness, will replace Cann at guard. Backup center Tyler Shatley will start his fourth consecutive game.
