Running back Le’Veon Bell’s quest for redemption after a struggling 2019 season with New York Jets will have to wait. Bell landed on injured reserve with the team confirming the decision on Tuesday.
Bell suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the Week 1 loss to Buffalo Bills, but returned in the second half and played through pain. This likely only made the injury worse, and now the 28-year-old RB will be sidelined for at least three weeks.
Jets brought in former Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage in a corresponding move while announcing that rookie wideout Denzel Mims and linebacker Blake Cashman are also headed to the IR.
In Bell’s absence, the Jets’ running game will mostly depend on 37-year-old Frank Gore and 23-year-old Josh Adams, who was recently promoted from the practice squad. Ballage might also prove a significant factor if he managed to overcome an injury that nixed his previously agreed trade from Miami to the Jets in early September.
By landing on IR, Le’Veon Bell continued his struggling stint with the New York Jets that began with a four-year, $52.5 million contract in March of 2019. Bell failed to justify this spending, delivering a career bad year in 2019.
Bell had career-low 3.2 yards per rush last season, running for a total of 789 yards and only three touchdowns. He also wasn’t failed to provide a playmaking boost to the passing game, although he had 66 receptions for 461 yards.
Bell promised to bounce back in 2020, but it appears that he’ll have to wait a bit longer to deliver on his word.
