Le’Veon Bell has yet to come out and say when he plans to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but all signs point to him missing the team’s Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
After the typical two days off following their Sunday game, Steelers players reported to work on Wednesday for team meetings. Once again, Bell was not among them.
#Steelers game week meetings begin in 20 minutes and RB Le’Veon Bell is not present again. Looks like James Conner starts again.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 12, 2018
With the deadline having passed for Bell and the Steelers to negotiate a long-term deal, the only real motivation Bell could have for skipping games is to limit his injury exposure in advance of free agency. If that’s his plan, he technically doesn’t need to show up until Week 10 to avoid having his contract toll.
James Conner rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday and caught fives passes for 57 yards. While he’s nowhere near as good of an athlete as Bell, more performances like that will help validate the Steelers’ decision to not pay Bell. Plus, you have to wonder if Bell’s teammates even want him back given some of the things they have said about him lately.
