The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to play both LeGarrette Blount and Le'Veon Bell in their third preseason game on Thursday, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network. Head coach Mike Tomlin said the whole team shouldn't suffer due to the recent incident involving both backs, and that he's not a "knee-jerk kind of guy," according to the report.
Le’Veon Bell, LeGarrette Blount to play Thursday’s preseason game
Both Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount will be in action for Thursday’s preseason game. We break down the fantasy implications.
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The pair were in a vehicle driven by Bell when it was stopped by police in Ross Township on Wednesday. The police detected the smell of marijuana, and Bell was eventually taken from the vehicle and charged with suspicion of driving under the influence. Blount was released, but both are expected to be charged with marijuana possession.
It’s unclear where things go from here. The NFL hasn’t been terribly consistent when it comes to punishment for marijuana-related charges, but it’s worth noting that the league generally waits until the legal process has run its course, meaning the pairing likely wouldn’t be looking at any league discipline any time soon.
Fantasy Impact: Both Blount and Bell have fantasy value -- the former as a short-yardage guy who can score multiple touchdowns per game and the latter due to the fact that he’ll be the primary ball carrier for the Steelers. We can say to be wary due to this arrest, but it’s hard to imagine this case coming to a close before the end of the regular season. It might be something to watch in keeper leagues, of course.
Whatever the case, fans can expect both to be in action for Thursday's game against the Eagles, and both are expected to see plenty of action.
