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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is not sure what to make of rookie running back Le'Veon Bell. During his weekly show on 93.7 The Fan, Roethlisberger admitted that he's skeptical about Bell's effort and durability. Via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
"Honestly, I have no idea with him," Roethlisberger said. "You can't get a read on him. One day, he's practicing, one day, he's not; one day, he's going hard, the next day, he's not. I wish I could.
"If he was a guy like Heath Miller that you knew was busting his butt every day to get back there ... Le'Veon is a rookie, I don't know him quite well enough yet. But if he can come back and help us, we'll take him."
Roethlisberger backtracked on his statement after the show, saying he hoped Bell didn't take it the wrong way.
Both Ben and Le'Veon downplayed Ben's comments about Bell rehab. Ben: "I'll go talk to him if he took it the wrong way." #Steelers
— Dejan Kovacevic (@Dejan_Kovacevic) September 25, 2013
Bell hasn't played since suffering a foot injury in the third preseason game. He returned to practice last week, and the Steelers are hopeful he can make his season debut against the Minnesota Vikings in London.
Despite Roethlisberger's skepticism, Bell might be the most talented player in Pittsburgh's backfield. The Steelers have just 156 rushing yards through three games, 31st in the league. They have failed to get any production out of a rotating cast of Felix Jones, Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman. Bell was being groomed as the workhorse back before the injury, and he should quickly assume that role if his foot is healthy.
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