Steelers’ RB Le’Veon Bell reportedly out for 6 weeks
By Matt Shetler
For those who expected rookie running back Le’Veon Bell to be the featured back when the Pittsburgh Steelers open up the 2013 season at Heinz Field against the Tennessee Titans, you may want to think again.
The news isn’t good on the foot injury Bell suffered Monday night against the Washington Redskins, as it looks like it will be a good bit of time before Steelers’ fans will get the opportunity to see exactly what Bell can do.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Bell is expected to be out at least six weeks with a Lisfranc injury.
Steelers rookie RB Le'Veon Bell is expected to be out six weeks with a Lisfranc injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2013
Aug 19, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le
That’s awful news for the Steelers as their backfield is currently banged up in a big way,
Not only is Bell now out, but the likes of Isaac Redman, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Baron Batch are also dealing with nagging injuries as well.
If you are scoring at home, that leaves the likes of Jonathan Dwyer as the only healthy running back at the moment and that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Steelers’ fans were anxious for Bell to see some game action, but that didn’t last very long Monday night. After dealing with a minor knee injury which kept him out of the Steelers’ preseason opener against the New York Giants, Bell carried the ball four times on the Steelers’ first offensive drive, but Dwyer was on the field with the offense for the Steelers’ second possession.
What the injury means for Bell is you won’t be seeing him take the reins of the No. 1 running back job for quite some time.
Without a full preseason under his belt, you have to believe that Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin will end up working the rookie back into action very slowly.
When he is healthy, its doubtful Bell just gets thrown right into the fire. You just don’t see rookies with four total preseason carries take ahold of starting jobs.
That likely means a running back by committee situation once again, at least until likely the season’s halfway point when I fully expect Bell to finally take hold of the Steelers starting running back job.