Giovani Bernard Injury Updates | Shark Bites

The Buccaneers have designated RB Giovani Bernard to return from IR. Bernard has been out since suffering a Week 2 ankle injury. There's now a 3-week window to return him to the active roster -- or rule him out for the season. It might not matter for fantasy purposes. Bernard played 0 offensive snaps through the season's 1st 2 weeks.

Bucs RB Gio Bernard was knocked out of Saturday's preseason opener with an ankle injury. With RB Leonard Fournette sitting, Bernard drew the start over RBs Rachaad White and Ke'Shawn Vaughn. We'll see about the severity of the ankle injury.

We're not done hearing about RB Leonard Fournette's offseason weight gain. Here's what Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times had to say on the subject this week, via the Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast: “Coaches were not happy, and that’s an understatement, when (Fournette) didn’t participate in the OTAs, but then he shows up at the mandatory minicamp weighing damn near 260 [pounds]. And that’s not a good sign for a guy that you’ve just spent a three-year contract on.” There's certainly still time for Fournette to get into shape ahead of the regular season. This is a red flag worth keeping in mind, though, given Fournette's history of lower-body injuries and his Round 2 ADP.

RB Giovani Bernard is re-signing with the Buccaneers on a 1-year deal for the "veteran salary benefit," according to ESPN's Jenna Laine. That means just less than $1.3 million for the 10th-year veteran. Bernard carried just 8 times while adding 29 targets over 12 regular-season games last year, losing 4 to hip and knee injuries late in the season. He's expected to work behind Leonard Fournette and Ke'Shawn Vaughn on the depth chart.

Bucs RB Gio Bernard is expected to miss "some time" with an MCL injury and hip strain suffered in Sunday's win over the Bills, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Bernard hasn't topped 4 carries or 3 targets in a game since Week 3, so there's very little fantasy impact here. Leonard Fournette will continue to dominate touches in Tampa's backfield.

Update: Bernard has been placed on IR, so he's out until at least Week 18.

Bucs RB Gio Bernard suffered a "slight" MCL sprain on his garbage-time TD in Sunday's loss to the Rams, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Bernard is considered "day to day," but his status for this weekend's game vs. the Patriots is "TBD," per Pelissero. We'll keep an eye on Bernard's status this week. His absence would free up passing-down work -- likely for RB Leonard Fournette.