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.
Analysis: 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 logged 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.
Jan 9, 2023 8:04 PM EST
Vaughn was limited to two snaps from scrimmage during the Buccaneers' 30-24 win over the Panthers in Week 17.
Analysis: 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 give plenty of backups playing time with team locked into its playoff positioning.
Jan 5, 2023 10:20 AM EST
Vaughn logged 12 special-teams snaps but none on offense during the Buccaneers' 17-16 win over the Saints on Monday night.
Analysis: 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 rush attempts Monday night.
Dec 6, 2022 8:42 PM EST
Vaughn rushed four times for 15 yards in the Buccaneers' 23-17 overtime loss to the Browns on Sunday.
Analysis: Vaughn logged four touches over nine snaps from scrimmage with Leonard Fournette (hip) in active. The third-year back could work as the No. 2 early-down back again in Week 13 against the Saints if Fournette sits out again, but it seems clear the Buccaneers are committed to Rachaad White as their likely lead back moving forward.
Nov 28, 2022 9:11 PM EST
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.
Analysis: 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 would presumably settle into the No. 2 role behind Rachaad White for a Week 12 road matchup against the Browns.
Nov 14, 2022 10:59 PM EST
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.
Analysis: 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 continue to have the smallest of roles on offense as long as Leonard Fournette and Rachaad White are healthy in front of him.
Nov 8, 2022 4:14 PM EST
Vaughn (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Saints.
Analysis: 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.
Sep 18, 2022 9:06 AM EST
Vaughn is inactive for Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys.
Analysis: 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.
Sep 11, 2022 4:06 PM EST
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.
Analysis: 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.
Aug 27, 2022 8:38 PM EST
Vaughn rushed 10 times for 54 yards in the Buccaneers' 13-3 preseason loss to the Titans on Saturday night.
Analysis: 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.
Aug 20, 2022 8:19 PM EST
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.
Analysis: Vaughn was the second running back in for the Buccaneers behind Giovani Bernard, and although he 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, and unlike primary competitor for the No. 2 running back job Rachaad White, he did not commit a turnover. 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.
Aug 13, 2022 8:04 PM EST
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.
Analysis: 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.
Aug 12, 2022 12:01 PM EST
Vaughn currently slots in as the Buccaneers' No. 2 running back with the recent departure of Ronald Jones in free agency, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Vaughn saw a slight uptick in involvement over that of his rookie 2020 campaign last season, rushing for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries and adding four receptions for 26 yards. The Vanderbilt product then played a sizable role in the wild-card win over the Eagles, carrying 17 times for 53 yards and a touchdown while also recording a pair of receptions. Looking ahead to 2022, it appears we're on the verge of finding out if Vaughn's two-season, low-volume apprenticeship has laid the proper groundwork for what should be a clear-cut No. 2 role behind Leonard Fournette, barring an unforeseen draft pick or free agent-signing disrupting that plan.
Mar 29, 2022 5:06 PM EST
Vaughn logged only two special-teams snaps during the Buccaneers' 30-27 divisional-round loss to the Rams on Sunday. He finished the 2021 regular season with 36 carries for 180 yards and two touchdowns along with four catches (eight targets) for 26 yards. He also amassed 15 yards in kickoff returns, all across 12 games.
Analysis: The second-year back finished up his season the same way he began it back in September, as a complete non-factor on offense. Vaughn didn't see his first carries until Week 7 against the Bears, and he only logged another three after that point until Week 15, when multiple injuries struck the Buccaneers backfield. Vaughn did give a solid accounting of himself from that point forward, averaging 5.3 yards per rush on his 28 carries over the final four games of the regular season while adding a pair of rushing touchdowns and his aforementioned four catches. The Vanderbilt product then played a significant role in the wild-card win over the Eagles, pacing the backfield with 17 carries and also recording a pair of grabs with Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette both unavailable. Neither of his backfield mates is guaranteed to be back in 2022, meaning that Vaughn's late-season taste of extended action could essentially prove to have been an on-field audition for a much larger role next season.
Jan 25, 2022 12:10 PM EST
Vaughn's teammate, Leonard Fournette (hamstring) has been activated off IR by the Buccaneers, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: 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.
Jan 22, 2022 1:48 PM EST
Vaughn rushed 17 times for 53 yards and a touchdown and brought in both his targets for nine yards during the Buccaneers' 31-15 win over the Eagles in an NFC wild-card matchup Sunday.
Analysis: After logging all of five carries during last year's Super Bowl title run, Vaughn took on lead-back duties Sunday with Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Ronald Jones (ankle) both out of action. The second-year back performed well with the extra workload and paid off for those rolling with him in fantasy playoff leagues and contests with a one-yard touchdown run to just before the end of the first quarter. Vaughn has proven capable of handling a robust workload over the last several games due to the depleted state of the Buccaneers' backfield, but he could certainly see a reduction in volume as soon as next weekend's divisional round if at least one of Fournette or Jones is back in action.
Jan 16, 2022 1:54 PM EST
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.
Analysis: 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 chance-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.
Jan 15, 2022 2:28 PM EST
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.
Analysis: Vaughn took on lead-back duties with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and did log 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 did salvage 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 of some degree.
Jan 9, 2022 8:45 PM EST
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.
Analysis: 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.
Jan 7, 2022 4:06 PM EST
Vaughn (ribs) practiced fully Wednesday.
Analysis: At the same time Bruce Arians called Vaughn "fine" earlier Wednesday, the coach mentioned the Bucs' 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.
Jan 5, 2022 12:51 PM EST
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