The Cincinnati Bengals went nostalgic when shaking things up in their backfield. The latest news has fans buzzing, but not necessarily in a good way. After a recent run of injuries, including placing running back Zack Moss on injured reserve, the Bengals are working out veteran running back Leonard Fournette and hosting former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard.
Bengals Fans Not Satisfied With Potential Leonard Fournette and Xavien Howard Addition
Fournette will be on the practice squad. He is famously known as “Lombardi Lenny” for his Super Bowl-winning stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2020 NFL season. However, his potential return led to a flurry of reactions on X, with some questioning if the Bengals are grasping at straws.
Bengals fans are torn. They are expressing concern over the decision to bring in the 29-year-old. One fan voiced a popular sentiment, saying, “Are we a senior citizen home???”
You gotta be kidding me. Are we a senior citizen home??? https://t.co/LL40CcrVj2
— micah (@basilrathboner9) November 11, 2024
Another fan quipped, “Oh wow if this was 2015, that’d be really exciting,”
Fans joked about the Bengals reaching for older talent. “Heard they’re working out Frank Gore too,” joked another.
One NFL fan said, “Desperation😂”
Another user commented, “He’s still around?”
One X user brought out Fournette’s stats, saying, “He is a talented RB but has not produced good numbers since the 2022 season.”
Another fan jokingly asked: “IN 2024???”
When it came to Howard, fans were not that skeptical when compared to Fournette. One fan wrote: “Wonder if Bengals fans are gonna talk about the weird case he has bc you know they would if Howard was taking a visit to KC.”
Wonder if Bengals fans are gonna talk about the weird case he has bc you know they would if Howard was taking a visit to KC
— Arrowhead Live (@ArrowheadLive) November 11, 2024
One fan said: “we weeks late.”
“Washed,” wrote a not so optimistic NFL fan.
“isn’t he bad now?” asked one X user.
While Fournette was a key figure in the Buccaneers’ 2020 Super Bowl run, his recent production has been far less impactful. He has managed 40 rushing yards on 12 carries in two appearances with the Buffalo Bills late last season.
However, one thing that’s undeniable with Fournette is his experience. He has over 4,500 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns under his belt in 81 games, but his age and reduced stats worry fans.
The Bengals also added Khalil Herbert to their roster as they grapple with a lean lineup. Fournette’s addition could be viewed as a short-term fix rather than a game-changing move. It’ll be interesting to see whether the seasoned veteran still has enough gas in the tank to make a meaningful impact in Cincinnati’s struggling backfield or if this is merely a nostalgic nod to his prime years.