UPDATE: Steelers Believe Le'Veon Bell Has Lisfranc Fracture

[housemd 338]

Le'Veon Bell will undergo an MRI on his right foot Tuesday.

 

The initial diagnosis on Bell was a mid-foot sprain. As ESPN's Adam Schefter notes, this injury sometimes turns into a Lisfranc fracture -- an injury that would cripple the second-round rookie's season. For now, all the Steelers can do is hold their breath. Bell's projected backup, Isaac Redman, produced 410 yards on 110 carries (3.72 YPC) and lost three fumbles last year.

 

I really don't want to see Redman or Dwyer as our Week 1 starter. I wish this kid a speedy recovery.

Edited August 21, 2013 by Favre4Ever

[Sarge+ 3,436]

FML.

[housemd 338]

Le'Veon Bell is getting a second opinion on his foot injury.

 

Second opinions can be scary because they suggest that the player or team was not happy with the original opinion. In this case, Bell's initial diagnosis was a mid-foot sprain. That injury can vary greatly in terms of severity and rehab time, so we suspect Bell could be meeting with a foot specialist such as Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte. All the Steelers have said is that their second-round rookie will not play in this week's preseason game and they are awaiting a final diagnosis.

[Dutch 874]

That sucks. The Steelers are going to need a run game with how bad their offensive line is or Big Ben might not last.

[BUCK3Y3 44]

Poor poor Steelers.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

The news is not good for Le'Veon Bell.

 

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the Pittsburgh Steelers believe their rookie running back has a Lisfranc foot injury, according to a source informed of his injury. Bell could miss extended time.

 

How was Bell looking before he got hurt? He looked pretty average coming out of the draft, which wouldn't even necessarily be a bad thing for the Steelers. It is shaping up to be a real rough year in Pittsburgh, IMO. Could they really finish last in the AFC North?

Edited August 21, 2013 by Favre4Ever

[BUCK3Y3 44]

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Le'Veon Bell is expected to be out six weeks with a Lisfranc injury, a source said Wednesday.

 

The Steelers said earlier in the day that they were waiting for a second medical opinion on the right foot Bell injured Monday night and ruled him out for the team's preseason game Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

 

He had an MRI taken Tuesday, and coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement that the Steelers should have a final diagnosis "over the next couple of days."

 

Bell left the Steelers' 24-13 loss to Washington early after spraining his right foot.

 

The team's second-round pick in April, Bell had been hampered by a knee injury earlier in the preseason and missed the Steelers' first preseason game.

 

The 6-foot-1, 244-pounder is listed as the co-starter on the Steelers' depth chart with Isaac Redman, and he is expected to play a big role in the running game this season.

 

The Steelers have suffered a rash of injuries at running back. Redman (stinger) and LaRod Stephens-Howling (knee) did not play against the Redskins. Baron Batch left the game with a stinger, leaving Jonathan Dwyer and Alvester Alexander as the only healthy running backs.

 

Tomlin said the Steelers held Stephens-Howling out of the game as a precaution, and he is expected to return to practice this week.

 

Bell, meanwhile, received some advice from veteran safety Ryan Clark following the rookie running back's abbreviated NFL debut Monday night.

 

Clark told Bell, who sprained his right foot in the first quarter against Washington, to make sure he is fully healthy before he returns to the playing field.

 

It was the same thing Clark told Bell during training camp after the latter went down the second time with a left knee injury.

 

"I told him, 'I understand that you want to prove to us that you're tough, that you want to prove to us that you're durable, that you're willing to go out and do whatever it takes to help us, but also understand that we're not going to win the Super Bowl this week. We weren't going to win it last week,'" said Clark, one of the team leaders. "He's proven to me that he wants to be out there, that he wants to try to fight through injury. Now he needs to get himself healthy."

 

What is key as Bell deals with another injury is making sure he stays engaged in meetings and at practice. Redman said he plans on peppering Bell with questions during practice to make sure the rookie doesn't lose focus.

 

"The mental reps are the biggest key when you're injured, to stay in practice, because a lot of guys, especially younger guys, when they get hurt, they tend to kind of drift away and become a guy that coaches always have to talk to and make sure you're paying attention at practice," said Redman, who hopes to play Saturday night. "As an older guy, you try to help them not get into that habit."

 

Bell had been one of the stars of training camp, and one thing Clark has stressed to the 48th overall pick of the 2013 draft is to keep his eye on the big picture.

 

"I've watched him run the ball in practice enough to know that he can be effective," Clark said. "I don't know what the situation is with this injury, but I want him to be fully healthy and be at full speed when he comes back because you don't want these things to continue to nag him not only this year but throughout his career. He has an opportunity to have a long football career. It's not all about today."

[Zack_of_Steel+ 3,014]

Worthless pick. Didn't need a fucking RB in the 2nd and now he'll be injured all season. Wonderful.

[RazorStar 4,025]

I thought you guys got rid of Mendenhall.

[housemd 338]

CBS' Jason La Canfora reports doctors are "hopeful" Le'Veon Bell (Lisfranc) can heal without surgery, but that he'll be sidelined 6-8 weeks.

 

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms Bell is expected to miss at least six weeks. That has Bell returning some time after the Steelers' Week 5 bye, and perhaps quite later. He's shaping up as a candidate for I.R./designated to return. Bell would be eligible to return from short-term I.R. in Week 9, which is 75 days from today. The news wrecks the Steelers' plan to remake their rushing attack, and leaves them with the unappealing trio of Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and La'Rod Stephens-Howling. It's unclear whom the leader of the committee will be, but we'll get some clues in Saturday's regular season dress rehearsal.

[Vin+ 3,121]

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette describes Le'Veon Bell's right foot injury as a "small ligament tear," and expects Bell to miss "up to six weeks."

 

Six weeks seems like a long time at first glance, but it's nothing compared to initial fears of a Lisfranc sprain or fracture. Bell appears to have avoided that, and a six-week timetable could get him back into game action by the first week of October. Bell is worth no more than a mid- to late-round fantasy stab, but not all is lost. He still has a chance to be a 2013 fantasy asset.

 

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[the Lions fan 19]

Felix Jones to the rescue.

[BC 331]

Ben Roethlisberger is in for one hell of a season. I think Jonathan Dwyer can be somewhat decent, but not enough to salvage too many W's.

[NaTaS+ 958]

As long as Roethlisberger stays healthy and LeBeau is the DC, the Steelers will be competitive.

[housemd 338]

Isaac Redman will be the Steelers' starter while Le'Veon Bell (foot) is sidelined.

 

Bell isn't expected back until Week 3 or 4 at the earliest. That leaves the Steelers with the unholy quartet of Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Felix Jones. Although Redman has been nursing a stinger, he's a coaching staff favorite and the most reliable option. Dwyer and whoever wins the change-of-pace job will also see work as part of a committee. It's a low-upside situation for fantasy owners. Redman had plenty of chances last year, but managed just 410 yards and two touchdowns on 110 carries (3.72 YPC).

[housemd 338]

Le'Veon Bell (foot) has already shed his walking boot.

 

Perhaps Bell really didn't sustain a Lisfranc injury after all. His ability to ditch the boot just nine days after his injury suggests that he's fine structurally. Now the process of healing the ligaments torn during his mid-foot sprain begins. The Steelers have declined to release a timetable, only saying Bell is out indefinitely. Media speculation has the second-round rookie out six weeks, making an October return possible. Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer will handle the majority of backfield reps while Bell is out.

[BC 331]

Isaac Redman???

[housemd 338]

Isaac Redman???

Yeah BC, I facepalm myself every time I think about Redman and Dwyer sharing backfield reps.

[housemd 338]

 

 

A source tells the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review the Steelers are now hoping to get Le'Veon Bell (foot) back in about a month.

 

So much for optimism that Bell could be back as soon as Week 2. Per the Trib-Review, Bell has a "rare" mid-foot sprain that's being classified as a Lisfranc injury. It's the kind of ailment that only gets better with rest, and sometimes ends up needing surgery (see Maurice Jones-Drew and Santonio Holmes). We wouldn't expect to see Bell before Week 6, and even that may be optimistic. The Steelers will start Isaac Redman again in Week 2. Jonathan Dwyer will mix in and Felix Jones may get a few change-of-pace snaps.

[BC 331]

Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell reportedly set to make season debut on Sunday. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000249901/article/report-leveon-bell-could-play-for-steelers-on-sunday?campaign=Twitter_atl …