Le’Veon Bell questionable vs. Ravens due to knee injury
The good news is the Steelers’ running back avoided major injury Sunday night. The bad news is the team is unsure if he’ll be available for the first playoff game.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is believed to have avoided serious injury after taking a hard shot to the knee Sunday night, a hit that left him crumpled on the ground and his team's postseason aspirations in jeopardy. Head coach Mike Tomlin told ESPN after the game he believes Bell suffered a hyperextended knee, though his status for Saturday's first-round playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens remains up in the air.
“We’ll gather more significant information as we proceed through the week,” Tomlin said. “We’re thankful that it’s not anything major.”
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Monday that Bell was unlikely to play against the Ravens, but his status remains up in the air:
MRI did not show ligament damage to LeVeon Bell’s knee, per source. Will be difficult to play Saturday, but will depend on how Bell feels.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2014 Bell stayed down for several minutes after taking a low hit from Cincinnati Bengals safety Reggie Nelson. He eventually jogged off under his own power but did not return to the game. ESPN reports he emerged from the Steelers' locker room with the knee wrapped in ice but was not wearing a brace or walking on crutches.
Tomlin and Nelson were seen jawing at midfield after the game, prompting speculation the coach took offense at the low hit on his running back. But Tomlin said in his postgame presser that the confrontation stemmed instead from a misunderstanding.
“I guess a teammate told him that I said something regarding him,” Tomlin said. “That’s untrue. Ask him. I have a lot of respect for Reggie Nelson. He’s a good player.”
Nelson declined to add details when questioned in the Bengals’ locker room.
Bell has been the engine for the Steelers' offense this season, finishing second in the league with 1,361 rushing yards and adding 11 touchdowns. If he's unable to go against Baltimore, rookies Josh Harris and Dri Archer will fill in. That duo had just six yards on six combined carries against the Bengals.
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