Former New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell intends to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, multiple outlets reported late Thursday afternoon.
According to ESPN, Bell will sign a one-year contract with the reigning Super Bowl champions. Bell told the outlet himself of his plans to sign with Kansas City. Earlier in the day, the outlet reported that the 28-year-old Bell, released by the New York Jets on Tuesday, planned to sign with the Chiefs, Buffalo Bills or Miami Dolphins. The Jets play each of those over the next three weeks (at Miami on Sunday, followed by at home against the Bills and a trip to Kansas City on Nov. 1).
Bell will unavailable for the Chiefs’ next game, Monday at Buffalo, as he has to go through five days of COVID-19 testing, per ESPN.
The high-octane Chiefs (4-1) are averaging 119.4 rushing yards per game, which is 13th-best in the NFL. They are led in the backfield by rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who leads the team in carries (81) and rushing yards (344).
Bell carried 13 times for 60 yards in the Jets’ 30-10 loss to Arizona on Sunday after missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury. In two games this season, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 74 yards on 19 carries and three receptions for three yards.
Last season, Bell was a disappointment with a paltry 3.2 yards per carry while rushing for 789 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 66 passes for 461 yards and one score. Bell topped 1,200 rushing yards three times in five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2013-17 while twice earning first-team All-Pro honors. He missed the entire 2018 campaign in a salary dispute after refusing to sign a $14.5 million franchise tag.
He then signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal as a free agent with the Jets in March of 2019. New York is reportedly still on the hook for the remaining $6 million on Bell’s base pay for this season. ESPN reported that some of that could be offset by the contract he signs with a new team.
–Field Level Media ()