Buccaneers place leading rusher Ronald Jones on reserve/COVID-19 list

The bad news just keeps coming for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of a Week 15 showdown with the Atlanta Falcons. 

One day after Tampa Bay placed kicker Ryan Succop, punter Bradley Pinion, and long snapper Zach Triner on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Buccaneers leading rusher Ronald Jones was added to that list and, thus, could be out through the weekend.

It's unknown if any of the four tested positive for the coronavirus or if they have been deemed "high-risk close contacts." Unless confirmed otherwise by the players and/or the team, any of the four who test negative throughout the week could be eligible to return to football activities by Sunday afternoon. 

Jones' status for the Atlanta game was already up in the air after he underwent a procedure on Tuesday to repair a fractured pinkie finger. Per the club's official statement, head coach Bruce Arians suggested that Leonard Fournette will start if Jones can't play. 

Fournette is second on the Buccaneers with 271 rushing yards but was a healthy scratch (coach's decision) for last Sunday's 26-14 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Veteran LeSean McCoy gained 32 yards on four carries in that winning effort. 

Following Christmas, Tampa Bay plays at the Detroit Lions on Dec. 26 and then closes the regular season versus the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 3.