Adam Schefter reports that Steelers officials and players still have not heard anything from RB Le’Veon Bell about his plans to return to the team, even though he previously told ESPN that he was planning to return during their Week 7 bye.
Schefter says that Bell has elected to keep the Steelers in the dark regarding his plans and no one in the organization knows exactly when he’ll report this coming week.
Sources have told Schefter that Bell could return at any time between Monday and next Monday, Oct. 22.
Bell has still yet to sign his franchise tender while his holdout has extended into the regular season, but that shouldn’t be much of an issue once he’s returned to the team.
The Steelers are reportedly still open to trading Bell if the right offer comes along, but indications are that the market for him isn’t all that robust.
For what it’s worth, Bell previously told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that he believes Jets, 49ers, Colts, Browns and Eagles would be among teams interested in him as a free agent next year.
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.
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