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Big Ben hints that Steelers might use Le’Veon Bell more at wide receiver

Le'Veon Bell is likely to receive the franchise tag once again

With Le’Veon Bell set to come back from suspension this week, the Pittsburgh Steelers have themselves somewhat of a quagmire at running back.

Through three weeks, backup DeAngelo Williams ranks fifth in rush attempts (66) and seventh in rushing yards (258). He’s been more than capable in Bell’s stead.

That’s all great, but we known Bell will be the primary ball carrier once he’s able to go 100 percent.

At the very least, Bell will see the field a lot more than his veteran counterpart. It’s in this that the Steelers are potentially looking to get creative here.

This is something quarterback Ben Roethlisberger addressed just recently, especially when asked about the potential of Bell playing receiver a bit more.

“In a way, yes,” Roethlisberger said. “Listen, we’re not going to put him at wide receiver and use DeAngelo at running back, but we will, I think, have them both on the field and move them out of the backfield,” Big Ben said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We’re not going to take RB off the front of [Bell’s] name and put WR, but I definitely think he is one of our best receivers.”

In no way should this come as a surprise. First off, the Steelers are without No. 2 receiver Martavis Bryant to suspension the entire season. In addition to this, up-and-coming young receiver Eli Rogers has recently been slowed down with a turf toe injury.

For his part, Bell has proven himself to be more than a capable receiver in the past. He caught 83 passes for 854 yards last season, putting up an absurd 79 percent catch rate in the process.

If the Steelers can find a way to get both Williams and Bell on the field at the same time, it would definitely pose a serious threat to opposing defenses. It’s now all about getting creative with the tandem, something Big Ben seems willing to do.

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