Bucs activate Jones

The Buccaneers have activated RB Ronald Jones off the COVID list. As long as he's not experiencing health issues, we'd expect him to be back to his usual role for Sunday's game against Atlanta. Leonard Fournette managed only 14-49 and 9-34 rushing lines in the 2 games Jones missed.

Arrowhead Pride's Pete Sweeney did not include RB Ronald Jones in his latest 53-man roster projection for the Chiefs. Sweeney has RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon making the team. He believes Edwards-Helaire and Pacheco are locks, with McKinnon and Jones battling for the 3rd and final spot. "My thought is the Chiefs preferred McKinnon — but in March, signed Jones just in case McKinnon decided go elsewhere," Sweeney writes, adding that Jones could be traded to a team that loses a RB to injury over the next few weeks. This isn't the 1st time we've heard that Jones is in danger of missing Kansas City's final roster: Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire made the same prediction back in July.

Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire gave a projection this week for the 53-man roster and left RB Ronald Jones out. "Shocked to not see Ronald Jones' name here? [Jerick] McKinnon's return endangers him more than some are willing to admit," Goldman writes. "I'm left wondering about the things Jones does well enough to make this roster." He goes on to point out that Jones stinks in the passing game, and McKinnon has fared well in that area. We certainly agree with that. And Jones was guaranteed just $750K on his 1-year contract this offseason. Goldman's projection includes McKinnon and 7th-round rookie Isiah Pacheco making the team over Jones and Derrick Gore. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in camp and preseason. For now, we're still betting on Jones making the team. McKinnon enjoyed a nice playoff run for last year's Chiefs, but he collected just 12 carries and 20 targets for the regular season. Kansas City then let him linger on the open market until well after it had signed Jones. You can consider us unexcited about either Jones or McKinnon for fantasy football drafting.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid called RBs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Ronald Jones a "good combo." Added Reid of Jones, “He’s a tough runner with good vision. I’ll take that, and he needs that opportunity to feel like he’s a major part of this thing. We’ll give him that." It sure sounds like the Chiefs view Jones as real competition for CEH, rather than an insurance policy. This will be 1 of the more important backfields to monitor this summer.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Chiefs "plan to" sign RB Ronald Jones to a 1-year deal worth "up to" $5 million. We'll see how attainable those incentives look once the contract is finalized. We all knew Kansas City would be in the market for at least 1 RB after the team let Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon reach unrestricted free agency. The Chiefs reportedly negotiated with Williams before the start of free agency. We'd still bet on Clyde Edwards-Helaire leading this backfield in touches. Jones has flashed some rushing skills over his 4 seasons, but he saw a 3-year low in carries (101 in 16 games) last season and garnered only 13 targets. He looks interesting in mid-to-low RB4 range for now. We'll see whether K.C. is done adding to its stable.

The Buccaneers have ruled out RB Ronald Jones (ankle) and WR Breshad Perriman (hip, abdomen) for Sunday’s game against the Rams. Perriman’s absence will leave opportunity for WR Cyril Grayson, if he’s able to play. Grayson is questionable with a hamstring injury that allowed him just 1 limited practice this week. Tampa also has WR Scotty Miller behind Mike Evans and Tyler Johnson.