AFC Notes: Patriots, Steelers, Le’Veon Bell

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN notes that the Patriots have until this Wednesday to activate rookie CB Duke Dawson from injured reserve or he would revert back to injured reserve and miss the remainder of the season.
• Albert Breer notes that the Patriots holding TE Rob Gronkowski out until Week 11 would likely put his incentives out of reach. Gronkowski would need 41 catches, 637 yards and eight touchdowns to trigger some incentives.
• Breer says that if he was the Patriots, he would tell Gronkowski that they’re “take care of the money” later while he focuses on getting healthy.

Steelers

• Ian Rapoport reports that the Steelers are confident RB James Conner will be able to clear the concussion protocol and be back for their next game.
• According to Albert Breer, the Steelers plan to place Le’Veon Bell on the exempt list if he reports to the team next week. Pittsburgh can keep him on the list for up to two weeks.
• Breer says that the Steelers “really want him back for the stretch drive” of the season and genuinely believe he can be deadly coming in with fresh legs.

Le’Veon Bell

Adam Schefter reports that if Le’Veon Bell doesn’t report by next Tuesday’s deadline, he will also forego roughly $200,000 in additional benefits that come along with a credited NFL season.

These benefits come in the form of a pension, an annuity, 401K contributions and a health reimbursement account.

“I don’t think it even enters his mind,” one source familiar with the NFL’s benefits package tells Schefter. “When you lose a credited [season] and retire, you wish you had it then. But you’re not thinking about that now.“