Le’Veon Bell won’t play in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs, squeezing a Steelers running game looking for answers.
Le’Veon Bell injury: Steelers rookie seeks second opinion
Rookie running back Le’Veon Bell will be out at least a week, leaving the Steelers to go with the same options who weren’t successful out of the backfield in 2012.
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A second-round pick out of Michigan State, the rookie running back has had a rough go of it. He missed the team's preseason opener with a knee injury, and then tweaked the knee again after being allowed to play. He was set to make his preseason debut in the team's Monday night game against the Washington Redskins, but after just four carries, he hurt his foot, and reports surfaced that he could be out for a decent chunk of time. We still don't know how long, but we know it will at least extend past the third game of the Steelers' preseason.
Does the success of the Steelers' running game lie with Le'Veon Bell
Behind the Steel Curtain argues the guys up front have more to do with whether or not Pittsburgh is successful on the ground than any running back. It’s strange: Bell was an absolute workhorse in college, carrying the ball 382 times in 13 games with Michigan State last year and managing 1,792 yards. The 230-pounder’s style seemed to make him a solid fit with Pittsburgh, but his durability, which seemed like one of his best attributes, has wavered and hasn’t allowed him to see the field significantly in his first NFL preseason.
Isaac Redman is also injured, leaving Jonathan Dwyer as the team’s default running back, and he’s capitalized with 83 yards on 20 carries. Both Dwyer and Redman were lackluster last year on a team that ranked 26th in rushing offense, so the team was hoping Bell could spark their ground game.
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