Le’Veon Bell injury: Steelers out with Lisfranc injury

Tomlin stated on Thursday that the team is encouraged by Bell’s progress so far, although an exact timeline for his return was not stated.

• The 2014 NFL Draft’s top 100 prospects

Update: Bell has Lisfranc injury and is expected to be out 6-8 weeks.

How much time Bell will miss should be better known after a second opinion.

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.

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.

Injuries have been an issue for Bell in training camp, and he has already missed one preseason game due to a knee injury. When he does return, there will be some question of how the injury will impact his effectiveness, especially for an elusive runner like Bell. According to ESPN, Bell led all power-conference running backs with 921 yards after contact last season.

• Two Carries, Six Yards: The tragic story of Ricky Bell

According to Burt Lauten of the Steelers’ public relations department, Bell suffered a foot injury and will not return to the game. The severity of Bell’s injury is not yet known.

Bell carried the ball 382 times as a senior at Michigan State and had over 600 rushing attempts during his college career.