Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell likely to miss at least a month
By Matt Gajtka
Aug 19, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell rushes against Washington in an NFL preseason game.
The much-anticipated preseason debut of Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Le’Veon Bell lasted all of a few minutes Monday night against Washington, as a mid-foot sprain sidelined the second-round pick in the first quarter.
While that doesn’t sound severe, that type of injury can easily keep an athlete away from game action for at least a month, as indicated by Bleacher Report sports medicine expert Will Carroll:
Bad news on Le'Veon Bell. Midfoot sprain is going to keep him out weeks on the low end. #gottabetheshoes
— Will Carroll (@injuryexpert) August 20, 2013
Read more about the NFL’s increased occurrence of foot injuries in this informative article from Carroll. No matter what the diagnosis may be for Bell – he was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday – his latest injury continues a disturbing trend for the big back from Michigan State.
A knee issue held Bell out of several training camp practices and the Steelers’ first preseason contest, and now he’s out indefinitely with what can be a delicate injury to deal with, especially for an explosive athlete.
Luckily for the Steelers, incumbent halfback Jonathan Dwyer looked strong in the loss to Washington, rushing for 68 yards on 14 carries and showing good burst through the line of scrimmage. The 24-year-old out of Georgia Tech is entering his fourth NFL season, and he’s now the favorite to start in Week 1 against Tennessee.
Fellow running backs Isaac Redman and LaRod Stephens-Howling also missed Monday’s game with minor injuries, but they should be good to go for Saturday’s home matchup with the Chiefs.