JAGS RB FEELS GOOD DESPITE ANKLE, CAR
FLA.» Leonard JACKSONVILLE, Fournette was sitting in his wrecked MercedesBenz on Interstate 295 this week, waiting for the police to arrive, when he got an unusual request.
One of the first responders wanted Jacksonville’s rookie running back to sign something.
It wasn’t a hat, a jersey or a football, either. The man asked Fournette to autograph the damaged bumper off his $200,000 car.
“The bumper was on the ground and he just came out of nowhere like, ‘Man, can you sign this for me?’ ” Fournette, a former LSU star, said Thursday. “I’m like, ‘You want me to sign a bumper?’ ”
Fournette said it’s “the first and hopefully last” automotive part that garners his signature.
If he keeps playing like he did at Pittsburgh last weekend, there’s no telling what Fournette will be asked to sign next.
Fournette ran for 109 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers despite reinjuring his right ankle in the first half. It was his most productive game in three months, a positive sign for the Jaguars (12-6) as they prepare for the AFC championship game at New England (14-3).
“I feel good in spite of the ankle and stuff,” Fournette said. “Just taking care of my body, but overall I feel good.”
Fournette averaged 4.4 yards per rush against the Steelers, finding room to run outside and turning small holes between the tackles into big gains. He scored three times, using his speed to get to the corner on one and leaping over defenders and across the goal line for another.
• Linebacker Telvin Smith is pleading for leniency after being fined $10,000 for taunting Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell during his fumble return for a touchdown last weekend.
Smith pointed at Bell near the goal line and drew a 15-yard penalty. He said he will appeal the fine.
Vikings safety Sendejo limited in practice.
MINN.» Vikings PRAIRIE, safety Andrew Sendejo is working his way back from a concussion that forced him out of the previous playoff game.
Sendejo took part in a limited portion of practice for the second straight day, after a hit to the head from New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas knocked him to the turf and out of the game.
Wide receiver Adam Thielen was also a limited participant at practice after being held out the day before because of a lower-back injury.
Steelers tab Fichtner to run offense.
Randy Fichtner is the Steelers’ new offensive coordinator.
Fichtner replaces Todd Haley, who wasn’t retained after Pittsburgh’s divisional-round playoff loss to Jacksonville.
Fichtner has been an assistant with Pittsburgh since 2007 and spent the past eight seasons as the team’s quarterbacks coach.
Footnotes.
Steve Sarkasian will return as the Falcons’ offensive coordinator despite a decline in production in his debut 2017 season. After leading the 32-team NFL in scoring in 2016, the Falcons fell to 15th this season. … Tennessee interviewed Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, the first candidate for its head coach opening. The Titans are looking to replace Mike Mularkey, fired Monday after he went 21-22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years. … Former Raiders head coach Tom Cable is back on the Oakland staff to coach the offensive line. The 53-year-old Cable coached the Raiders for three seasons from 200810 and finished with a record of 17-27. He had been the assistant head coach and offensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks since 2011 until his firing last week from Pete Carroll’s staff. In addition, Edgar Bennett was named wide receivers coach and Jim O’Neil senior defensive assistant.