The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are very banged up at running back. LeSean McCoy left last Sunday’s game and Leonard Fournette is battling a weekly ankle injury.
Kenjon Barner, who was promoted off the practice squad for week four, played meaningful snaps on Sunday. But it seems he’s been flagged with a positive drug test.
Bucs return specialist Kenjon Barner, who has been elevated from the practice squad to play in the last two games, has been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He wasn’t likely to play this week as he’s in concussion protocol.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) October 6, 2020
If the Buccaneers are sold on Barner, he’ll likely go back to the practice squad after serving his suspension. Of course, the Buccaneers could just outright cut him, but we don’t know the nature of the substance.
Many players get flagged for taking supplements that would seem harmless, as was the case with Kwon Alexander and an energy drink in 2015. But if Barner was aware of the supplement, it will be hard to argue any sort of appeal.
Tampa Bay will role with Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Ronald Jones in the backfield, and will likely turn back to Jayden Mickens for return duties.