Steelers acquire RB Felix Jones from Eagles

Maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers are a little more concerned with the foot injury to rookie running back Le’Veon Bell than they would lead one to believe.

With Bell out of action for what could likely be a six to eight week period and most of the other Steelers running backs banged up as well, Steelers’ general manager Kevin Colbert added some depth to the Steelers backfield on Friday by acquiring running back Felix Jones from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for outside linebacker Adrian Robinson.

Jul 26, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Felix Jones (38) during training camp at the Eagles NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Jones was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Dallas Cowboys, but he was inconsistent in his first five years in the league. The former All-American (2007) out of Arkansas had dealt with a number of injuries, with everything from his knees and ankles to his toe, hamstring and thighs.

The deal works out great for Jones, who had signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason but was stuck behind both LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown in the Philadelphia backfield.

Jones is worth taking a shot on for the Steelers. Robinson is a second-year former undrafted free agent who likely won’t make a huge contribution outside of special teams so it didn’t cost them much of anything.

He gives the Steelers another back to compete with Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and LaRod Stephens-Howling. With the current state of injuries in the Steelers’ backfield coupled with the fact that all of those competing for carries have been disappointments thus far, it gives Jones a good shot to revitalize his career.

Last season Jones ran for 402 yards and three touchdowns on a career-low 3.6 yards per carry. He also caught 25 passes for 262 yards and two other additional scores.