Le'Veon Bell is back. And he couldn't be happier.
"It's amazing," said Bell on Monday. "I'm glad it's over and I can just focus on getting back on the field with my teammates."
Bell served a two-game NFL mandated suspension, missing the Patriots and 49es games, but will return to the field this week against the St. Louis Rams.
"It was hard," said Bell. "Obviously, I wanted to be out there with my team, but I understand I had a suspension to serve. Surprisingly, it went by pretty quickly. I thought it was going to be a long two weeks. It was definitely hard watching them compete the last two weeks. I'm excited to be back. All I wanted to do was play. I'm excited to show people what I can bring to the offense."
In his absence DeAngelo Williams carried the ground game, and did a stellar job of it. Williams carried the ball 41 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns in two games, also adding five receptions for 20 yards.
"He played great, but that didn't surprise me at all," said Bell. "I've been watching him for a long time, so I thought he did everything I was expecting and more. I'm glad to be able to come back and help him out a little bit."
Bell said there is no doubt that the two of them can work together in the backfield now, making the team that much better.
"We are both competitors. We both want to win," said Bell. "Whatever the coaches ask us to do, we will do. At the end of the day, we have to put up points and help this offense. We are both capable of doing that. He showed he can come in and help this team. We are different styles of runners, so I think they will use us both.
"We are both guys who like to win, so neither one of us are selfish guys. We just want to win the game and put up as many points as possible."
The Steelers offense put up 43 points against the 49ers without Bell. With him back in the lineup, it just adds to the explosiveness.
"I expect us to go out on the field and put up great numbers every time," said Bell. "I know the guys up front do a great job blocking and we have the best quarterback and receiver in the league. The offense doesn't surprise me at all."
Bell, who the team doesn't have to make a roster move with yet, said he learned a lot going through the suspension, and understands how tough the consequences can be.
"I can't make mistakes, especially ones that will cost me time on the field," said Bell. "I can't afford to not be here for this football team. I've learned from all of this and I'm ready to get back out there."
