Le’Veon Bell More Likely To Return To Steelers For Week 9?

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the Steelers still have “no clarity” regarding when franchise RB Le’Veon Bell will end his holdout and report to the team.

According to La Canfora, several Steelers’ executives believe it’s more likely that Bell wants until Week 9, which is after the trade deadline, to sign his franchise tender and return to the team.

Prior reports have said that Bell could have returned to the team for Week 7 or 8, but sources have told La Canfora that Pittsburgh would not have paid him for his services during their bye. The team plans to utilize a two-week roster exemption on him when he does report and the two parties would have to negotiate how much of his salary he would earn during this time.

Steelers owner Art Rooney II tells Ian Rapoport that he doesn’t expect to trade RB Le’Veon Bell before the upcoming trade deadline. However, La Canfora mentions that the Steelers would prefer to move him, but his “prolonged absence and actions and recent comments have not helped his trade value at all.”

Trade talks with the Eagles reportedly have not advanced in recent weeks beyond the team’s initial inquiry.

Beyond that, La Canfora says that the Steelers have concerns that Bell’s presence could be a negative for the team. Even when Bell reports to the team, La Canfora mentions that he could have a role behind James Conner for a while.

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 have him featured in our Top 25 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.