Le’Veon Bell wants to play as soon he’s eligible to come off of short-term injured reserve.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Bell would like to return to the Jets’ lineup in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals. Bell is eligible to be removed from short-term IR and rejoin the Jets’ active roster in Week 5.
Bell injured his hamstring in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. He went out for a pass and slipped, causing him to injure his hamstring late in the first half. Bell came back out for the second half; Adam Gase decided to pull the plug on him in the third quarter. After the game, Gase said he wished he had not put Bell back in the game.
The 28-year-old running back was highly motivated entering the 2020 season. He felt this year was going to be the best year of his career. Bell used the entire offseason to get his body in better shape after he admitted that he didn’t feel great in 2019.
The Jets desperately need some playmakers on offense. While Bell isn’t nearly the same player he once was, he’s still better than what the Jets have been running out there over the past couple of weeks. Frank Gore has been carrying the load in Bell’s absence, but there’s only so much a 37-year-old running back can do at this point in his career.
So if Bell does indeed return in Week 5, it should be a big boost to the Jets offense.