Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sign Le’Veon Bell

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to keep things on the right track. After a recent shutout loss, Tom Brady’s first in 15 years, now they have a new running back to help out.

The Bucs signed free agent running back Le’Veon Bell on Wednesday. Adding an experienced veteran to an offensive backfield that has recently been thinned by injuries. The Buccaneers did not have to make any corresponding moves as they began the day with four available spots on the 53-man roster.

Le’Veon Bell had a lot of ups and downs over the past few seasons. Ever since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell hasn’t been able to relive the magic of his first few years in the NFL. He has bounced around to various different teams, and for a few weeks this year, Bell got to play for the injury-riddled Baltimore Ravens, before eventually being let go.

Since that time, Bell has been waiting for a new opportunity. With teams losing multiple players to injuries and even COVID-19, it seemed inevitable that Bell would eventually get his chance to play for a contending team. Now, that inevitability has finally come to fruition.

Bell most recently played five games for the Baltimore Ravens in October and November, logging 31 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, he split time between the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets and ran 82 times for 238 yards and two scores and also caught 16 passes for 138 yards. Bell was on the Chiefs’ roster for Super Bowl LV against the Buccaneers in February but did not record any snaps.

The Buccaneers had a need in their running back room after lead back Leonard Fournette suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday night’s game in New Orleans. Giovani Bernard, who primarily had operated as a third-down back through the Bucs’ first 12 games, landed on injured reserve on December 14. That left Tampa Bay with just two healthy backs on the active roster in Ronald Jones and Ke’Shawn Vaughn before the addition of Bell.