Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Minimal action in regular season
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed 17 times for 53 yards and secured three of four targets for 19 yards across 15 games in 2022.
The third-year back was a forgotten man on offense most of the season, logging just 35 snaps from scrimmage. Vaughn did garner active status for a career-high 15 games, but rookie Rachaad White beat him out for the No. 2 running back job and only increased his snap share as the campaign unfolded. The fact that Vaughn received so few opportunities even with veteran Giovani Bernard missing significant time due to injury doesn't bode well for the Vanderbilt product's prospects heading into the final year of his rookie deal, especially with Leonard Fournette still projected to be on the roster in 2023 alongside White.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Ten touches in Week 18 loss
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed eight times for 26 yards and secured both targets for eight yards in the Buccaneers' 30-17 loss to the Falcons on Sunday.
Vaughn logged a season-high 16 snaps from scrimmage and another 14 on special teams, leading to his most elevated touch total of the campaign. Even when factoring in Sunday's workload, Vaughn recorded a career-low 17 carries and four targets this season despite playing in a career-high 15 games; he's almost certainly slated for special-teams work exclusively during the upcoming postseason.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Logs two snaps Week 17
Rotowire
Vaughn was limited to two snaps from scrimmage during the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers in Week 17.
The third-year back logged another 12 on special teams, which continue to be his primary ticket to active status. Vaughn did carry once for six yards versus the Cardinals in Week 16, but with the team's running back corps at full health, meaningful playing time is essentially an impossibility. That said, the upcoming Week 18 finale against the Falcons could very well be a rare exception, as the Buccaneers are expected to eventually give plenty of backups playing time with the team locked into its playoff positioning.
Tampa Bay has said they aren't resting their starters, but to me that just means they'll play a drive or two. A majority of this game I would expect Vaughn to be the lead back for the Buccaneers against a suspect Falcons defense.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Limited to special teams in win
Rotowire
Vaughn logged 12 special-teams snaps but none on offense during the Buccaneers' 17-16 win over the Saints on Monday night.
The reserve running back was relegated to a non-existent role on offense with Leonard Fournette returning from his hip injury. Vaughn had logged eight carries and drawn a pair of targets over the previous three games, but Fournette and Rachaad White were the only Buccaneers backs to record any touches Monday night.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Sees action from scrimmage again
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed twice for two yards and brought in his only target for 11 yards in the Buccaneers' 21-16 win over the Seahawks on Sunday.
Vaughn saw plenty of action considering he logged only five snaps from scrimmage, with Leonard Fournette's early exit due to a hip pointer opening some opportunity for the third-year back. If Fournette can't get healthy over the Buccaneers' Week 11 bye, Vaughn presumably would settle into the No. 2 role behind Rachaad White for a Week 12 road matchup against the Browns.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Cameo appearance in Week 9 win
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed twice for four yards and failed to bring in his only target in the Buccaneers' 16-13 win over the Rams on Sunday.
Logging his first three offensive snaps of the season, Vaughn recorded his first carries since the wild-card win over the Eagles in January. Vaughn has remained a fixture on special teams since Week 3, and he projects to continue filling the smallest of roles on offense as long as Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White are healthy in front of him.
Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Saints.
Vaughn will sit in favor of the veteran Giovani Bernard once again. The former will continue to work to earn a chance to suit up in Week 3 against the Packers.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Inactive for opener
Rotowire
Vaughn is inactive for Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys.
With Vaughn not in the mix Sunday night, Rachaad White and Giovani Bernard are slated to work behind starter Leonard Fournette in Tampa Bay's Week 1 backfield.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Scores in preseason finale
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed nine times for 36 yards and a touchdown and failed to bring in his only target during the Buccaneers' 27-10 preseason loss to the Colts on Saturday night.
Vaughn made a second consecutive strong case for the No. 2 running back job after producing a 10-54 line on the ground in last Saturday's loss to the Titans. The third-year back capped off a nine-play, 81-yard drive early in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown run, his fourth consecutive carry of the possession. Rachaad White, Vaughn's competition for the primary backup role to Leonard Fournette, did enter the game ahead of Vaughn, and there's a possibility the two manage the job in a timeshare of sorts to open the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Efficient on ground in loss
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed 10 times for 54 yards in the Buccaneers' 13-3 preseason loss to the Titans on Saturday night.
Vaughn had scored a touchdown in the Buccaneers' preseason-opening loss to the Dolphins but gained just 19 yards on 10 rushes, so Saturday night's performance was much more efficient. The third-year back is facing stiff competition from rookie Rachaad White, and their battle for the No. 2 running back job appears headed for a culmination in next Saturday night's road exhibition finale versus the Colts.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Logs 12 touches in opener
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed 10 times for 19 yards and a touchdown and brought in both targets for 22 yards in the Buccaneers' 26-24 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Saturday night.
Vaughn was the second running back in for the Buccaneers behind Giovani Bernard, and although the former accomplished next to nothing on the ground, he did power into the end zone from one yard out with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter. Vaughn did have some success as a receiver, but he didn't keep up on per-touch production with his primary competitor for the No. 2 running back job, Rachaad White. The battle between Vaughn and White will be one to watch through the remainder of the summer and will feature its next installment in next Saturday night's road matchup against the Titans.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Impresses in Thursday's practice
Rotowire
Vaughn ripped off a long run up the right sideline in Thursday's joint practice with the Dolphins, Andrew Crane of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The third-year back was part of a successful session for the Buccaneers' ground game against the Dolphins defense, with Vaughn's run described by Crane as a would-be touchdown had it happened in a game setting. Vaughn picked up some valuable experience late last season, including in the wild-card loss to the Eagles, but rookie Rachaad White has also impressed during camp as the two battle to serve as the primary complement to lead back Leonard Fournette.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Added competition for carries
Rotowire
Vaughn's teammate, Leonard Fournette (hamstring), has been activated off IR by the Buccaneers, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
The looming return of Fournette for his first game action since Week 15 bolsters Tampa Bay's backfield ahead of Sunday's divisional-round game against the Rams, with Ronald Jones (ankle) still out. In the team's wild-card win over the Eagles last weekend, Vaughn led the way with 17 carries, adding a pair of catches, while Giovani Bernard logged 13 rushes and five catches. As long as Fournette avoids any setbacks with his hamstring issue, however, both Vaughn and Bernard figure to see decreased volume versus Los Angeles, making them speculative fantasy lineup options.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Set for bigger role Sunday
Rotowire
Vaughn may share running back reps with Giovani Bernard (hip/knee) during Sunday's wild-card contest against the Eagles after the Buccaneers activated the latter from injured reserve Saturday, Carmen Vitali of the team's official site reports.
Tampa Bay already ruled out Ronald Jones (ankle) for its postseason opener, and the team opted not to activate Leonard Fournette (hamstring) from IR on Saturday, meaning its top two options out of the backfield are unavailable. With Bernard back in the fold, he'll serve in at least a change-of-pace role, but Vaughn could be the preferred option on early downs, while Le'Veon Bell also is on hand. In 12 appearances this season, Vaughn racked up 36 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns and also gathered in four of eight targets for 26 yards.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Inefficient with extra opportunity
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed 10 times for 29 yards and a touchdown and brought in both targets for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 41-17 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Vaughn took on lead-back duties with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and logged double-digit carries, but he wasn't able to do much on a yards-per-carry basis. However, his two-yard scoring run early in the third quarter salvaged his day somewhat from a fantasy perspective, and he finished the season with two scores over the last three games. The health of both Jones and Leonard Fournette (IR-hamstring) will certainly be the subject of plenty of scrutiny this coming week leading up to Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Eagles, and if at least one of the two remains on the shelf, Vaughn would presumably be in line for at least a complementary role in the contest.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: More snaps on tap for Week 18
Rotowire
Vaughn and Le'Veon Bell will be the Buccaneers' main running backs Sunday against the Panthers with Ronald Jones (ankle) ruled out and Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani Bernard (hip/knee) still on injured reserve, Joey Knight and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times report.
After Fournette hit IR following a Week 15 loss to the Saints due to a hamstring strain, Jones stepped in as the No. 1 RB the past two contests, but he sustained an ankle injury this past Sunday at the Jets. As a result, Vaughn has earned the bulk of his touches on the season over the last three games, racking up 18 carries for 120 yards, two catches (on six targets) for 14 yards and one rushing TD. Bell also mixed in Weeks 16 and 17, with eight touches for 34 yards from scrimmage. The likely outcome is Vaughn serving as the early down option for the Bucs, with Bell and potentially practice squad member Kenjon Barner serving as complementary pieces.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Logs full practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Vaughn (ribs) practiced fully Wednesday.
While head coach Bruce Arians called Vaughn "fine" earlier Wednesday, he noted that current No. 1 running back Ronald Jones was donning a walking boot and wouldn't practice, per Scott Smith of the team's official site. Tampa Bay will wait until Thursday or Friday to see if Jones can run on his injured ankle, at which point a decision may be made on his availability for Week 18. With Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani Bernard (hip) still on injured reserve, Vaughn and Le'Veon Bell are the only healthy running backs on the active roster at the moment. Vaughn has received more run than normal over the last three contests due to all the injuries in the backfield, averaging 6.7 yards on his 18 carries, reeling in two of six passes for 14 yards and scoring one touchdown.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Flashes with extended opportunity
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed seven times for 70 yards and a touchdown and failed to bring in his only target during the Buccaneers' 32-6 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Operating as the primary backup to interim lead back Ronald Jones, Vaughn made good use of his opportunity with the help of a 55-yard touchdown up the left sideline in the first quarter, Tampa Bay's first score of the game. The second-year back had just 11 carries on the campaign coming into the contest, but he should continue to serve in a solid complementary role in a Week 17 road matchup with the Jets.
... See More... See Less
Buccaneers' Ke'Shawn Vaughn: Three carries in loss
Rotowire
Vaughn rushed three times for 19 yards and failed to bring in either of his two targets in the Buccaneers' 9-0 loss to the Saints on Sunday night.
Vaughn, who was primarily active Sunday night due to Giovani Bernard's (hip/knee) placement on injured reserve earlier in the week, was called into action when Leonard Fournette exited early with a hamstring injury. While Vaughn's role still was modest (19 snaps), that may not be the case in coming weeks, considering Fournette could miss at least the Week 16 contest versus the Panthers, at minimum. In such a scenario, Ronald Jones still projects to helm the Bucs backfield, but Vaughn could be a key complementary option.
