Antonio Brown wasn’t the only Bucs player on offense to leave the game early on Sunday. However, running backs Ronald Jones II and Ke’Shawn Vaughn exited the game with injuries and not by choice. An ankle issue took Jones out of the game in the third quarter, while Vaughn was felled by a shot to the ribs. Neither player returned in the Bucs’ comeback win.

Tampa Bay is already down two running backs with Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard on injured reserve. On Monday, Bruce Arians gave an update on who might be available for Week 18.

“We’re waiting to see on RoJo’s MRI on his ankle, how severe it is,” Arians said. “I think Ke’Shawn’s got bruised ribs. Hopefully he’ll be ready to go. I got my fingers crossed that Gio might get back. Kenjon Barner is ready and Le’Veon [Bell] is ready. So we’ll have somebody out there.”

With Fournette out for the final three games of the season, this was a big opportunity for Jones and Vaughn. Jones had 20 attempts for 65 yards and a touchdown at Carolina, along with two catches for 16 yards. He followed that up with 10 rushes for 26 yards and one catch for a yard against the Jets.

Bucs RB Le’Veon Bell – Photo by: USA Today

Vaughn had the huge play of the day in Carolina with a 55-yard touchdown run. He finished the day with seven carries for 70 yards and a score. The third round pick rushed for 31 yards on eight attempts in Week 17, catching two of three targets for 14 yards. Vaughn had some receiving woes in the previous two games, with a pair of drops.

Getting Bernard back would be significant in the passing game. Bernard was placed on injured reserve in December because of an MCL injury. He hasn’t played since the Bucs’ overtime win over the Bills. Bernard has 23 receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns this year. But the former Bengal has rushed only eight times for 58 yards.

Depending on the availability of these running backs, it could be Bell that leads the way for the Bucs’ rushing attack. He’s rushed five times for four yards in two games, but was a factor in the passing game against the Jets with three receptions for 30 yards. Bell also plunged in from two yards out for a two-point conversion on Sunday.

Barner has played a role as a returner for the Bucs with Jaelon Darden still on the COVID list, which is a job he had for six games with Tampa Bay last season. He also has experience in the Bucs’ offense from last year, playing six snaps.