Le’Veon Bell Expected To Report During Week 7 Bye, Steelers Still Listening To Offers

According to Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler, Steelers franchise RB Le’Veon Bell expects to report to the team during their Week 7 bye.

“It sucks having to sit out football,” Bell said tells Fowler. “I want to play. I want to win games and the playoffs.

“But I’ve gotta take this stand. Knowing my worth and knowing I can tear a ligament or get surgery at any time, I knew I couldn’t play 16 games with 400 or more touches.”

Schefter adds that Pittsburgh still is expected to be interested in listening to trade offers for Bell and the news that he plans to report later this month would not dissuade them from pursuing a deal that made sense.

By reporting in time for the Steelers’ Week 8 game, it will ensure that Bell earns another year of accrued service time towards free agency.

Reports from over the weekend mentioned that Pittsburgh is “actively shopping” franchise in trade offers around the NFL, as opposed to just receiving calls from interested in a potential trade.

According to Ian Rapoport, the Steelers are looking for a second-round and a player in trade for Bell, but it remains to be seen if any team will be willing to meet that asking price for Bell, who is essentially just a rental player. Rapoport admits that it would be “extremely difficult but not impossible” for the Steelers to move Bell.

Anyone interested in trading for Bell and willing to part with draft compensation to get him would have to be willing to sign him to a big-money extension next year. However, they can’t negotiate with Bell until after the season.

Bell, 26, is a former second-round pick of the Steelers back in 2013. He played out the final year of his four-year, $4,120,600 rookie contract that included a $1,376,800 signing bonus and was in position to be one of the best players in the free agent market when he was franchised.

The Steelers used the franchise tag on Bell again this offseason, which means he stands to make $14.5 million fully guaranteed for the 2018 season before testing the open market as an unrestricted free agent next year.

In 2017, Bell has appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and rushed for 1, 291yards on 321 carries (4 YPC) to go along with 85 receptions for 655 yards receiving and 11 total touchdowns. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 9 running back out of 58 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Bell as the news is available.