Healthy Le’Veon Bell in Week Two Can Only Help Steelers and Running Game
Aug 19, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) hands the ball off to Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Le'Veon Bell says he is targeting the second game to return but also adds that he won't return until he is at full strength.
— Scott Brown (@ScottBrown_15) September 2, 2013
Many believed that Le’Veon Bell’s rookie season was over before it really ever began after went down with an apparent Lisfranc injury during his preseason debut against the Redskins. Thankfully for Bell and the Steelers, the mid-foot sprain he suffered was deemed to be not as serious as the one Matt Spaeth suffered earlier this offseason. So instead of being sidelined for most of the 2013 regular season, Bell was thought to only miss six-to-eight weeks according to many reports.
Bell however appears to be recovering much faster than many anticipated, and the running back was seen last week without his walking boot. Best of all however was the fact that the rookie’s head coach stated that Bell was able to do physical activity “without discomfort” as recently as two weeks ago. While those snippets of Bell’s recovery were positive, Scott Brown’s most recent tweet above would be downright fantastic for the Steelers and Bell if it actually occurred.
For Bell, a return in the first quarter of the 2013 regular season would allow him to get back in the running back “fold” as early as possible if his health permits him to do it. Plus, with a cavalcade of other hobbled and “specialty backs” as his competition, Bell could have a terrific chance of still winning a bulk of the carries during his rookie campaign. In turn, Pittsburgh’s running game and offense would receive a much-needed boost from their most recent second round pick who should be an upgrade over the likes of Isaac Redman, Felix Jones, and LaRod Stephens-Howling.
The Steelers will need as much help as possible in their offensive backfield this fall, and Bell was not drafted 48th overall to simply ride the pine. Although I hope that Pittsburgh’s medical staff do not try to rush him to play before he is healthy enough, the Steelers could stand to use Bell’s presence in their offensive backfield as soon as possible this fall.
Stats & Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com and Pro Football Reference
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