While most (read: all) expect Le’Veon Bell to be the Pittsburgh Steelers starting running back when the season opens, there was some speculation that the black and yellow were slightly opening the door for Isaac Redman to snatch the job away. Redman was named as the starting running back on the Steelers depth chart last week while Bell opened on the third string.
Bell didn’t play in the Steelers preseason opening game, but that certainly didn’t hurt his candidacy to become the starting running back as the Steelers listed him on their most recent depth chart as the co-starting running back, along with Redman, despite not even participating in the game.
Per ESPN:
"Bell, who was listed behind Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer last week, was held out of the preseason opener because of a knee injury. In the depth chart released Wednesday, Bell was elevated to the co-starter spot with Redman.The first time Bell learned about this was when a reporter asked him a question about it Wednesday.“The guys who are calling the shots are confident in me,” Bell said. “It’s good motivation. I’m going to keep striving to be the best I can be. I’m going to continue to compete.”When it comes to motivation, there’s no shortage of it for the Steelers’ second-round pick.“I wasn’t the first running back and I didn’t go first round,” Bell said, “that’s something I can use as motivation. I always find something to motivate me and that happens to be it.”"
Bell should have no problem claiming the starting gig and should provide solid numbers throughout the season given the workload the Steelers are expected to unload on him.