Leonard Fournette learned heartbreaking news days before playoff game

Just two days before competing in an NFL divisional round playoff game, Leonard Fournette learned his cousin had died. As tough as it was to swallow, the Tampa Bay running back knew he still wanted to play.

He suited up and delivered an impressive two-touchdown performance in spite of his pain. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to advance, as the Buccaneers fell to the Los Angeles Rams in a narrow 30-27 loss.

Fournette finished the game with 13 carries for 51 yards rushing in addition to nine catches for 56 yards receiving. He came through in the clutch moments, scoring a nine-yard touchdown with 42 seconds remaining to tie the game at 27.

However, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford responded with some clutch plays of his own, connecting with Cooper Kupp on a couple of passes to put his team in field goal range. From there, Matt Gay kicked a 30-yard field goal to claim the win.

Sunday was the first game Fournette had played in more than a month. The fifth-year pro was activated from injured reserve the morning before the game after missing the previous four games with a hamstring injury.

In his second season with the Buccaneers, Fournette carved out a role as the team’s lead running back after splitting carries with Ronald Jones in 2020. The former first round pick out of LSU finished the year with 812 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, both of which were team highs. He spent his first three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars before being cut prior to the start of the 2020 season.

Tampa Bay was the third team to lose on a walk off field goal in the divisional round of the playoffs. Tennessee and Green Bay, two other Super Bowl favorites, also lost Saturday.

Ins spite of the playoff loss and all that happened to him this week, Leonard Fournette can at least take solace in the fact he gave it his all. It showed through his performance on the field, too.