Bell, who has shifted his focus from football to boxing, indicated Tuesday that he doesn't plan to play in the NFL this coming season, ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The 30-year-old -- who is a free agent -- has a scheduled bout with Adrian Peterson (who saw action for the Titans and Seahawks last season) on July 30. While Peterson hasn't ruled out continuing his NFL career, at this stage Bell isn't considering that option as the 2022 season approaches. In eight appearances (five with Baltimore and three with Tampa Bay) in 2021, Bell logged 39 carries for 101 yards and two TDs, while adding five catches for 30 yards and a receiving score.
Jul 13, 2022 2:29 PM EST
Bell signed a contract for a boxing match July 30 against fellow NFL running back Adrian Peterson, ESPN's Mike Coppinger reports.
Analysis: Bell hasn't announced his retirement, but this can be taken as a sign that he either isn't focused on his football career or else isn't getting opportunities. It's possible his brief stint with the Bucs at the end of last season will be Bell's final NFL action, as he's now 30 years old and a half decade removed from his Pittsburgh peak (2014-17).
Jul 5, 2022 9:25 AM EST
The Buccaneers have waived Bell, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The move frees up a roster spot for the activation of fellow running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) from injured reserve. Per Greg Auman of The Athletic, if Bell clears waivers as expected, the Buccaneers can bring him back to their practice squad, but for now the team will proceed with a backfield comprised of Fournette, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Giovani Bernard. Ronald Jones is out this week with an ankle injury.
Jan 22, 2022 1:25 PM EST
Bell, who was active for Sunday's wild-card win over the Eagles but did not log a snap from scrimmage, finished the regular season with 39 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns and five receptions for 30 yards and another score over eight games with the Ravens and Buccaneers. He also had a two-point conversion run for Tampa Bay.
Analysis: Bell saw his first regular-season action in Week 4 against the Broncos while with the Ravens and ultimately suited up for five games with Baltimore before being jettisoned after Week 10. After five weeks on the open market, the one-time Pro Bowler landed in Tampa Bay and was active for the last three games of the regular season, recording a two-point conversion rush versus his old Jets squad in Week 17 and a one-yard receiving touchdown in Week 18 versus the Panthers. Even with Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Ronald Jones (ankle) inactive for the wild-card matchup Sunday, Bell didn't see the field, so his chances of any action in Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Rams appear slim.
Jan 17, 2022 8:51 PM EST
Bell rushed three times for 14 yards and brought in his only target for a one-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 41-17 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Analysis: The veteran running back served as the No. 2 option behind Ke'Shawn Vaughn with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and was productive with his limited touches. Bell's one-yard scoring grab with 15 seconds remaining in the first half served as his first touchdown since Week 9 against the Vikings when he was with the Ravens. If either Jones or Leonard Fournette (IR-hamstring) are able to make it back for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Eagles, Bell could well end up a healthy scratch or used even more sparsely than he was Sunday.
Jan 10, 2022 5:19 PM EST
Bell and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will be the Buccaneers' primary running backs Sunday versus the Panthers with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani Bernard (hip/knee) still on injured reserve, Joey Knight and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times report.
Analysis: After Fournette was forced to IR due to a hamstring strain following a Week 15 loss to the Saints, Bell was brought in as insurance for the Tampa Bay backfield. Jones stepped in as the No. 1 running back for the ensuing two contests, but he suffered an ankle injury himself this past Sunday at the Jets and will miss the season finale. Vaughn likely will serve as the team's top RB in Week 18, what with averaging 6.7 yards on his 18 carries over the last three games. But Bell should get in the mix, too, after taking five carries for four yards and hauling in all three targets for 30 yards in two outings as a member of the Bucs. Behind Vaughn and Bell, Kenjon Barner also is a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad to provide a bit more depth to the position.
Jan 7, 2022 4:17 PM EST
Bell rushed three times for five yards and secured all three targets for 30 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-24 win over the Jets on Sunday.
Analysis: In his second game as a Buccaneer, Bell came through with his trademark receiving skills on an important drive in the game. The veteran recorded two of his three catches on a early fourth-quarter possession that culminated in a Ryan Succop 27-yard field goal to bring Tampa Bay within four points. Bell could see his role expand further in Week 18 against the Panthers with both Ronald Jones (ankle) and Ke'Shawn Vaughn (ribs) dealing with injuries and the offense down another pass catcher with the imminent release of Antonio Brown.
Jan 3, 2022 9:47 PM EST
Bell logged just three snaps from scrimmage in the Buccaneers' 32-6 win over the Panthers on Sunday and netted minus-1 yard on two carries.
Analysis: The veteran had just joined the team early in the week, so his sparse involvement was no surprise. Bell was a distant third in the backfield pecking order behind Ronald Jones and Ke'Shawn Vaughn, and that scenario will likely carry over into a Week 17 road matchup against the Jets.
Dec 27, 2021 9:10 PM EST
The Buccaneers officially signed Bell on Wednesday.
Analysis: Bell's presence will help provide depth in a backfield that could be without Leonard Fournette (hamstring) for at least three weeks, if he indeed ends up on IR. Ronald Jones projects to operate as the No. 1 running back in Fournette's absence, while a combination of Bell and Ke'Shawn Vaughn compete for complementary work. Across five games in Baltimore this season, Bell averaged just 2.7 yards per carry and caught one of three targets for negative one yards, but he did score twice on the ground.
Dec 22, 2021 6:41 AM EST
The Buccaneers is poised to sign Bell, pending a physical, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Bell had a five-game stint earlier this season with the Ravens in which he averaged 2.7 yards on his 31 carries and scored two touchdowns on the ground. With Giovani Bernard (hip) on IR and Leonard Fournette picking up a hamstring injury this past Sunday against the Saints, the Bucs are in need of some depth at running back. If Fournette ends up missing time, Ronald Jones will be the fill-in with the starters, but Bell would provide a short-yardage and goal-line option to the offense.
Dec 21, 2021 3:05 PM EST
Coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday that it's possible Bell could be re-signed by the Ravens, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Bell was waived by the Ravens on Tuesday, and Harbaugh mentioned that the veteran running back could find an opportunity elsewhere in the league. That said, it looks like if Baltimore once again ends up in need of backfield depth at a time where Bell is still a free agent, the team could call him again. Across five appearances with the Ravens, Bell carried the ball 31 times for 83 yards (2.7 YPC) and two touchdowns.
Nov 17, 2021 9:27 AM EST
The Ravens waived Bell on Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Since joining the Ravens prior to Week 1, Bell made five appearances with the team but was inefficient on the ground, averaging just 2.7 yards on his 31 carries. However, he did score a pair of touchdowns to salvage his value somewhat. Bell's release may mean Baltimore is expecting Latavius Murray (ankle) to return to the fold soon, but the Ravens will move on after experimenting with Bell.
Nov 16, 2021 9:59 AM EST
Bell had three carries for one yard against the Dolphins.
Analysis: After turning in his best performance of the season in Week 9, Bell faded into the background Thursday while Lamar Jackson and Devonta Freeman handled most of the rushing work. Freeman appears to be making inroads on the No.1 running back spot for Baltimore and Bell projects as more of a rotational piece in an offense that is less run-heavy than it has been in recent years. Bell and the Ravens face the Bears in Chicago on Sunday.
Nov 16, 2021 7:09 AM EST
Bell rushed 11 times for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 34-31 overtime win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Analysis: Bell saw fellow veteran backfield mate Devonta Freeman outpace him by two carries and 31 rushing yards, but it was the former who picked up a key first down early in the Ravens' game-winning drive in overtime and also subsequently ripped off a 12-yard gain on another third-down play later in the possession that took the ball to Minnesota's 19-yard line. Bell's carry and rushing yardage totals were season-best figures, and he figures to have a good chance to build on them in a Week 10 road matchup against the Dolphins on Thursday night.
Nov 7, 2021 3:48 PM EST
Bell had five carries for five yards and added a reception for a one-yard loss against the Bengals.
Analysis: Baltimore had trouble getting the ground game going Sunday and Bell was no exception to that, averaging just one yard per carry. He played the second-most snaps (22) among Baltimore backs but three of them in total played at least 20 snaps. Baltimore is on a bye this week before returning to action against Minnesota. Bell has produced a total of 17 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown in three appearances thus far and it remains to be seen if Baltimore will settle on a consistent running back rotation that includes this veteran.
Oct 26, 2021 6:35 AM EST
The Ravens signed Bell of the practice squad Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: With Latavius Murray emerging from Week 6 with an ankle injury, the Ravens again have a need for reinforcements in the backfield. If Murray sits out Sunday against Cincinnati, Devonta Freeman, Ty'Son Williams and Bell would be the players to take on RB duties for Baltimore. It's unclear exactly how much Bell can provide at this stage in his career, but he's earned 40 offensive snaps in two appearances for the team en route to 12 carries for 29 yards and one touchdown while failing to gather in his one target.
Oct 19, 2021 2:22 PM EST
Bell reverted to the Ravens' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Analysis: Bell had eight carries for 18 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's win over the Chargers, and he played 22 offensive snaps compared to Latavius Murray's 26 and Devonta Freeman's 21. Murray exited the contest due to an ankle injury, and Bell could receive expanded opportunities in the near future should Murray end up missing any time.
Oct 18, 2021 3:16 PM EST
Bell rushed eight times for 18 yards and a touchdown but wasn't targeted in Sunday's 34-6 win over the Chargers.
Analysis: Bell, Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray all got between eight and nine carries, with Murray working as the team's primary backfield option before he exited with an ankle injury. Bell scored his first touchdown as a Raven from two yards out in the second quarter, but his meager season average of 2.4 yards per carry won't inspire Baltimore to give Bell a significantly larger role in the event Murray misses additional time.
Oct 17, 2021 2:28 PM EST
Bell is active for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Bell was elevated from the practice squad Saturday and will be active for the second time this season. The 29-year-old carried four times for 11 yards and failed to catch his lone target during his previous appearance in Week 4. Latavius Murray should lead the backfield while Bell and Devonta Freeman work as the secondary options.
Oct 17, 2021 8:55 AM EST
Bell was elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
Analysis: Bell surprisingly wasn't elevated ahead of the Week 5 Monday night contest, but he'll make his return to the Ravens roster against the Chargers on Sunday. The veteran back did little in his first opportunity back in Week 4 earning just four carries while failing to catch his lone target and it's hard to imagine a larger workload with the full complement of Ravens backs available such as Latavius Murray, Ty'Son Williams and Devonta Freeman.
Oct 16, 2021 1:23 PM EST
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