DeCastro Says Injury Is Worse Than Expected
- Steelers All-Pro guard David DeCastro fractured his hand during last weekend’s game, and he acknowledged that the injury was worse than he initially thought. The offensive lineman has sat out the past few days of practice, and he’s set to be fitted for a brace. While he may have to wait another few days for swelling to go down, DeCastro indicated that it wouldn’t be missed practice time that forces him to miss a game. “I’m old enough now,” he told Joe Rutter of TribLive.com. “We’ll see how the swelling goes.” The 28-year-old has only missed a single regular season game over the past three seasons, and he’s earned three Pro Bowl nods during that span.
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David DeCastro Has Hand Fracture
- David DeCastro fractured his hand on Sunday, and Mike Tomlin said this could limit him going forward. But the veteran Steelers blocker expects to play Sunday against the Chiefs, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Steelers Bracing For Lengthy Le’Veon Bell Absence
The Le’Veon Bell saga could end at any time, or it could drag on indefinitely. The Steelers star running back has yet to report to the team and will miss Pittsburgh’s season opener against the Browns today. While there has been speculation that the Steelers could look to trade Bell, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the team has no interest in dealing him, and some around the league believe he could return before the end of the month (Twitter link).
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com agrees (via Twitter) that Pittsburgh will not look to trade Bell, though he does not offer a potential timeframe on Bell’s return. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, though, says that team brass is bracing for a lengthy absence of at least four to six weeks, and some within the organization do not believe that Bell will return prior to Week 10 (by returning for Week 10, Bell will be able to preserve his free agent status at the end of the season).
Bell’s teammates, meanwhile, appear perplexed by the situation. Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com tweets that Bell told the Steelers’ offensive lineman that he would be with the team this week, and when he failed to report, the O-lineman called and texted their teammate but could not get a straight answer from him.
2017 third-rounder James Conner will start for the Steelers in Bell’s absence, and while he will surely not be able to replicate Bell’s production, he has the ability to be a quality back in the league and should give the team enough of a threat out of the backfield to keep its offense humming.
Steelers Could Increase Bell's Salar
Le’Veon Bell will officially miss Week 1. While there is no end in sight to the saga between Bell and the Steelers, it’s always been assumed there’s nothing really to negotiate. Since the deadline passed for the Steelers to give Bell an extension, it’s been suggested that there’s no financial incentive for Bell to hold out, and that he’s merely preserving his body for 2019 free agency.
That’s apparently not entirely true, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk points out the Steelers actually can sweeten Bell’s deal. The deadline that passed was only for multi-year deals, and Pittsburgh could give him as much extra money for this season as they wanted. That seems unlikely, as the relationship has soured quite a bit in recent weeks, but is still notable.
Bell Won’t Report To Steelers This Week
The Steelers-Le’Veon Bell stalemate will take a significant divergent turn compared to last year’s impasse. Bell will not report to the team on Saturday and will forgo an $853K payment, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Bell has until 4pm ET to show up, but Schefter adds that deadline will come and go with the two-time All-Pro away from the team. James Conner was already entrenched as the Steelers’ Week 1 starter against the Browns, but Bell being willing to skip a game check adds a layer to this situation.
This process will now carry over into Week 2, when the Steelers are set to host the two-time reigning AFC West champion Chiefs. And if Bell’s on board with bypassing a near-$1MM check this week, it’s obviously in play he’d do so again. Steelers offensive linemen unloaded on the running back this week for his seeming disinterest in his 2018 team’s status compared to his potential position on the 2019 free agent market. The situation plunges into stranger territory now that he’s refused to report before his team’s Cleveland trip.
The early part of the Steelers’ schedule is not as menacing as the back end. The Chiefs are the only 2017 playoff team on the Steelers’ September slate. But the Ravens, viewed by many as the top threat to the Steelers’ AFC North crown this season, are set to visit Pittsburgh in Week 4.
Pittsburgh will not trade Bell, rescind his franchise tag or add money to it. Bell’s agent cryptically voiced concerns about how the Steelers will use his client this season — on the heels of mammoth workloads in 2016 (on a per-game basis) and ’17 — and Bell’s side is showing it means business by extending the player’s absence into the regular season.
Mike Tomlin said earlier this week he won’t let an agent dictate his game plans, firing back at Adisa Bakari’s comments regarding his client’s high-volume usage rate. But until Bell’s side blinks, Conner will be the Steelers’ top running back.
Steelers Won’t Adjust Bell’s 2018 Salary
While the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell are not permitted to discuss a long-term extension until after the regular season concludes, the team would be allowed to increase its star running back’s 2018 payment. However, don’t count on that happening.
The Steelers are not going to set a precedent in this unexplored area by adjusting Bell’s $14.5MM tag price, Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com reports (video link), adding they also will not discuss a trade. A trade would in effect thrust another team into Pittsburgh’s place — renting a running back that appears hellbent on doing his best to make it to the 2019 market without too much additional wear and tear from this season.
Bell turned down Steelers contract proposals the past two summers and is now essentially locked into his $14.5MM franchise tender, or a prorated amount of it. He could still report to the Steelers on Saturday, sign his franchise tender and receive the first of his $855K payments. He’s yet to do so.
Pittsburgh could rescind Bell’s tag, make him a free agent now and save $14.5MM. That also will not happen. The Steelers have restructured several veterans’ contracts to make room under the cap this year. They are prepared to carry that $14.5MM salary on this year’s cap sheet.
As the high-profile staring contest continues, James Conner is in line to start against the Browns on Sunday. The Steelers will host the Chiefs in Week 2.
Vance McDonald Out For Steelers
- Jesse James will start at tight end for the Steelers on Sunday against the Browns. Vance McDonald will miss Pittsburgh’s opener, per Steelers.com’s Missi Matthews (Twitter link). A foot injury shelved McDonald during the preseason, halting the tight end’s offseason momentum as he prepares for his second Steelers season.
Latest On Le'Veon Bell
While Le’Veon Bell has given no indication as to when he’ll report to the Steelers, those involved in the matter “estimate” Bell will arrive on Saturday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). That’s far from a declarative report, but showing on Saturday would allow Bell to receive his game check for Pittsburgh’s Week 1 contest, even though he almost certainly won’t play in the game. The Steelers won’t rescind Bell’s franchise tag, which is scheduled to pay him roughly $14.5MM for the 2018 season, nor will they trade the All-Pro running back, per Rapoport. Bell’s agent suggested workload is a concern for the superstar, but head coach Mike Tomlin says he won’t discuss Bell’s projected usage with the latter’s representation, per Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Steelers Won’t Rescind Le’Veon Bell’s Franchise Tag
Despite his continued absence, the Steelers won’t rescind Le’Veon Bell‘s franchise tag, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
The drama reached new heights yesterday, when many of Bell’s teammates began criticizing him publicly. Several of his offensive linemen chimed in, a situation that is more or less unprecedented in today’s NFL. After yesterday’s fallout, many began to speculate that the Steelers would either rescind the tag, or look to trade Bell, but that’s not true according to Rapoport.
Despite GM Kevin Colbert’s strongly worded statement and the relentless griping from his teammates yesterday, “he’ll play for the Steelers this year. It’s just a question of when” writes Rapoport. While it was reported yesterday that Bell would almost certainly miss Week 1, it appears for now he still will be suiting up for Pittsburgh this season.
Bell missing yesterday’s crucial game-planning practice appeared to be the final straw for his teammates, and they lamented the fact that Bell hasn’t told anybody when he plans on reporting. Bell’s agent when on the radio a bit later in the day, and made clear that Bell’s primary motivation is getting through the season unscathed and entering free agency 100% healthy, even if it means giving up $855K game checks. It’s a risky move by Bell’s camp, and his antics could actually end up hurting his value in free agency.
Either way, it doesn’t sound like this situation will be resolving anytime soon.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/18
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Trevor Bates, C Leo Koloamatangi
- Cut: S Rolan Milligan, LB Darnell Sankey, T Dan Skipper
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Maurice Smith
- Cut: RB Jeremy Langford
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Jalen Myrick
- Placed on injured list: DB Jack Tocho
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Trey Edmunds
- Cut: RB Jarvion Franklin
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: LB Antwione Williams
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Jehu Chesson, TE J.P. Holtz
- Cut: QB Nic Shimonek