(Tampa) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made up for a lack of experience in the backfielder by signing Le’Veon Bell to a contract.
Bell, who was released earlier this season after playing five games with the Baltimore Ravens, joined the Buccaneers on Tuesday as the reigning Super Bowl champions continue to contend with several injuries to key players surrounding quarterback Tom Brady.
Running back Leonard Fournette sustained a hamstring injury in the 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Ronald Jones will resume the role of number one, which he lost to Fournette during the last campaign.
Fournette’s injury came a week after Giovani Bernard, another veteran brought in to help Brady, suffered an injury against the Buffalo Bills. The Buccaneers also lost the services of wide receiver Chris Godwin for the remainder of the campaign and wide receiver Mike Evans, who also suffered a hamstring injury against the Saints.
The 29-year-old Bell has amassed over 1,000 rushing yards on three occasions and is attractive to the Buccaneers because of his background. He joins Ke’Shawn Vaughn as a backup for Jones, who has averaged 4.7 yards per carry this season.
Since joining the NFL in 2013 as the Pittsburgh Steelers second-round pick, Bell has 6,536 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns. He also caught 395 balls for 3,258 yards with eight majors for the Steelers, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Ravens.
Fournette has rushed 812 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He is also second to the Buccaneers with 69 receptions, for gains of 454 yards and two majors.
In five games with the Ravens, Bell carried the ball 31 times for gains of 83 yards and two touchdowns.