Running back LeGarrette Blount is expected to return for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, and the team will need him even more than it did before his injury.
Blount missed the last two games with a knee injury but said Monday he felt ready to play this week.
"I feel good. Everything is back in store, everything is where it needs to be," Blount told the St. Petersburg Times. "My recovery was a little bit faster than what we thought, so everything is going real well. It's looking good for this week."
With Earnest Graham out for the year with a torn right Achilles, Blount is eyeing a role as an every-down back. Blount said he relished the opportunity to play more snaps.
"I've shown that I know the protections and I know the routes and everything and I can catch the ball, so that's going to help us out tremendously," Blount said. "It's going to let me stay in the game a little bit longer and play a lot more snaps, so I'm excited."
Kregg Lumpkin and Mossis Madu are expected to spell Blount with Graham out.
