Steelers ‘disappointed’ Le’Veon Bell hasn’t returned to the team

The start of the 2018 regular season is just around the corner. However, it has yet to see Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell back in the flood with the team.

In response to this holdout extending into the days ahead of Week 1 action, general manager Kevin Colbert has voiced disappointment that Bell is still away from the franchise, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

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“We are disappointed Le’Veon Bell has not signed his franchise tender and rejoined his teammates,” general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement Monday. “Coach [Mike] Tomlin and the coaching staff will continue to focus on preparing the players on our roster for our regular season opener on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.”

At this point, it is just a matter of when Bell decides to sign his franchise tender. He needs to show up to get some practices under his belt ahead of the season opener. However, his no-show on Monday does poke holes in the notion that he will be with the team for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

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His long-term contract situation aside, the Steelers are counting on Bell to be their workhorse back for the 2018 campaign with the hope that he can help them contend for the Super Bowl. He has established himself as one of the premier running backs in the league that is coming off yet another impressive campaign where he finished third with 1,291 rushing yards and nine touchdowns along with a career-high 85 receptions for 655 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.

If Bell is unable to show in time for the start of the regular season opener, the team will turn to second-year running back James Conner to step in as the starter.