The Steelers have received a roster exemption for running back Le’Veon Bell as he makes his return from a three-game suspension, tweets team PR man Burt Lauten. Pittsburgh will need to clear a roster spot for Bell by 3pm CT Thursday.
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Veteran DeAngelo Williams has been the Steelers’ workhorse in the absence of Bell, as he’s rushed for more than 250 yards and two touchdowns on 66 attempts while adding 14 receptions through the air. If Pittsburgh takes the same approach as last year — when Bell returned following a two-game ban — Williams is unlikely to see much action in the coming weeks. From Week 3 to Week 7 of 2015, Williams averaged only three carries per game, letting Bell handle the workload until the latter suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8.
If the Steelers simply want to cut a fellow running back to create a roster spot, they seemingly have two options — Fitzgerald Toussaint and Daryl Richardson. Neither has been a factor on offense (they have six carries combined), but Toussaint has been with the club since 2015 and plays a large role on special teams, which could give him the edge.
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