An old Pittsburgh rival is joining a Ravens backfield picture that’s been decimated by injuries, but the question is what Le’Veon Bell has left to contribute.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Baltimore is signing the three-time Pro Bowl running back to the practice squad with plans to elevate him to the 53-man roster in the near future. Bell, 29, had been a free agent since finishing last season with Kansas City, but he worked out with the Ravens on Monday and showed enough to warrant being added to the mix in the wake of season-ending injuries to top running back J.K. Dobbins and third-year reserve Justice Hill at the end of the preseason. Starter Gus Edwards and 2020 undrafted free agent Ty’Son Williams entered Tuesday as the only healthy running backs on the Ravens’ active roster or practice squad.
After eclipsing 1,800 yards from scrimmage in three of his first five seasons with the Steelers to become one of the NFL’s best running backs, Bell hasn’t been the same player since sitting out the 2018 campaign because of a bitter contract dispute. The 2013 second-round pick from Michigan State signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the New York Jets in 2019, but he averaged a career-worst 3.2 yards per carry while No. 2 running back Bilal Powell averaged 3.9 rushing yards per attempt behind a poor offensive line. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Bell rushed for 789 yards and three touchdowns and caught 66 passes for 461 yards and a touchdown in 15 games in 2019.
Last season wasn’t any better as Bell hurt his hamstring in the season opener, played in only two games for New York, and was released in October after the Jets couldn’t find a trade partner for the disenchanted back. Bell signed with Kansas City days later and ran for 254 yards and a touchdown on 63 carries in nine regular-season games, but he was a non-factor in the postseason and didn’t play in Super Bowl LV despite being active. Bell took a shot at the Chiefs this offseason by writing on Instagram, “I’ll never play for Andy Reid again. I’d retire first.”
A rejuvenated Bell embracing a complementary role would certainly benefit from playing in a Lamar Jackson-led offense and could bring useful receiving ability out of the backfield that the Ravens had hoped to get from Dobbins this season, but it’s difficult to say whether the former Steeler can regain his old form after more than 2,000 career touches — counting the postseason — at a position that doesn’t age particularly well. Bell was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014, 2016, and 2017, but he’s averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and 7.3 yards per reception since the start of 2019. There’s also the question of how much time Bell will need to get into game shape after not being with a team this spring and summer.
This marks the second straight year that the Ravens will take a chance on a former Pro Bowl offensive talent after signing wide receiver Dez Bryant to their practice squad midway through the 2020 season and eventually activating him. Having not played in the NFL since 2017, the 32-year-old Bryant was a shell of his former self, catching just six passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns in six games and not making a reception in two postseason contests.
Bell’s addition doesn’t mean the Ravens are finished addressing the running back position as they worked out former Carolina running back Trenton Cannon on Tuesday. Cannon appeared in 14 games for the Panthers and played 40 percent of their snaps on special teams last season, a profile that fits what Justice Hill provided on game days. The Ravens also worked out running backs Devonta Freeman and Elijah Holyfield on Monday and could now even consider Latavius Murray, who was released by New Orleans on Tuesday.
