The Tampa Bay Buccaneers activated three players off injured reserve Wednesday, including primary running back Leonard Fournette and Pro Bowl linebacker Lavonte David.
Running back Giovani Bernard also returns to practice. The Bucs have 21 days to promote the trio to the active roster. It’s expected that all three will be ready to play in Sunday’s wild-card game against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.
Fournette, 26, was placed on IR on Dec. 23 with a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 15. He led Tampa in rushing with 812 yards to go with eight touchdowns. He also caught 69 passes for 454 yards and two TDs.
David, 31, was also put on IR on Dec. 23 with a foot injury he sustained in the same Dec. 19 loss to New Orleans. He started all 12 games he played in, racking up 97 tackles, two sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles. David was All-Pro in 2013 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2015.
Bernard, 30, has been on IR since Dec. 14 after sustaining a hip injury in Week 14 against Buffalo. He has been Tampa’s third-down back, catching 23 passes for 123 yards and three TDs. He’s also rushed eight times for 58 yards.
–Field Level Media