The NFL’s second-leading rusher is about to lose his starting job.
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After a three-year span of repeated ego blows, however, the former first-round pick has rebuilt himself as a team player willing to do anything and everything asked of him, a player who is hungry to contribute and to earn the trust of his quarterback, which he already has.
Meanwhile, the Steelers will now carry only four wide receivers with Martavis Bryant suspended: Antonio Brown, Sammie Coates, Markus Wheaton and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Pittsburgh’s DeAngelo Williams has 204 yards on the ground but he will likely give way to Bell, who returns from a two-game suspension following his arrest on DUI and marijuana charges last August.
DeAngelo Williams tied a Pittsburgh Steelers franchise single-game record with three rushing touchdowns in the Steelers’ 43-18 victory over the San Francisco 49ers Sunday.
“I’m going to play Le’Veon Bell“, Tomlin told reporters Tuesday.
Williams, who called Pittsburgh’s top-ranked offense “a lovely puzzle”, made sure to take a bow after his three scores versus the 49ers. “I expect us to be out there and put up insane numbers”.
Tomlin said he’ll continue to be aggressive in going for two-point conversions at his “discretion” but discounted that he’ll do it early, as he did Sunday, to gain any psychological advantage.
It’s uncertain what St. Louis team will come to play, but all eyes will be on the Rams’ defensive line against the return of Bell.
During his suspension, Bell was permitted to workout at the team’s facility and attend all meetings. “It doesn’t surprise me at all”. I saw him just about every morning in February when a lot of guys are on beaches and vacationing, this guy was getting out of his vehicle at 6:30 in the morning to work out.
Williams has been a good fantasy option for the first two weeks and for owners of Bell, he is worth having as a handcuff option.
“Le’Veon doesn’t like to come out of the game”.
He already has 135 yards receiving and his eight receptions are his most through the first two games of a season in his career.
Coming off an ugly 24-10 road loss to Washington, the Rams (1-1) will host the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) in a noon game Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
“I never would have thought of that play if I didn’t have confidence in him, that he would make that play”, Roethlisberger said.
The precise fling from Roethlisberger was actually a play the quarterback wanted specifically because it would free up Heyward-Bey downfield.
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Heyward-Bey has certainly been a valuable contributor to the Steelers’ offense as the third wide receiver thus far, a role that many expected that he would not be able to maintain.
