DeAngelo Williams signs with Pittsburgh Steelers

DeAngelo Williams found a home with the Pittsburgh Steelers after he was released by the Carolina Panthers.

Le’Veon Bell developed into one of the best running backs in the NFL last season, but his workload will be slightly less in 2015 after the Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran running back DeAngelo Williams, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

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Williams turns 32 in April and is coming off an injury-plagued season with the Carolina Panthers that saw him miss 10 games and limited to 219 yards on 62 carries and failed to score a touchdown.

In nine seasons with the Panthers, Williams ran for 6,846 yards and 46 touchdowns, including an NFL-high 18 touchdowns in 2008 when he ran for a career-high 1,515 yards. He is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

Williams could be in line for a starting role early next season with the Steelers preparing to be without Bell who is expected to be suspended for the first two regular season games in 2015 after he was arrested in August on marijuana and DUI charges.

Bell finished second to DeMarco Murray in rushing last year with 1,361 yards and added eight touchdowns. Bell also finished second on the Steelers in receiving to Antonio Brown with 83 receptions for 854 yards as he developed into one of the best all-around backs in the NFL and an absolute fantasy football monster.

Williams and second-year player Dri Archer will have to carry the load with Bell suspended, but when Bell returns, the veteran Williams can play a complementary role to the workhorse back and lighten his load and make sure he’s strong in the final months of the season for a playoff push.

He is familiar with sharing carries with Jonathan Stewart in Carolina so it won’t be a radical change for Williams who joins a great organization who has a long history of being a strong run-oriented team.

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