Holdout running back Le’Veon Bell is not expected to report to the Pittsburgh Steelers by the Tuesday deadline and thus be ineligible to play for the remainder of the season, ESPN reported Saturday night.
Bell must report by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday or forfeit his opportunity to play for the Steelers this season.
The 26-year-old Bell has refused to sign and play with the franchise tag. But Bell has not spoken publicly about his intentions other than in January when he said he would be willing to sit out the reason rather than play under the tag for a second consecutive season.
With Bell away form the team, James Connor has stepped in and performed admirably, rushing for 771 yards on 164 carries and 10 touchdowns. He’s averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
Bell forfeits $855,000 in salary each week that he’s away from the team.
–The New Orleans Saints effectively are expected to replace Dez Bryant by signing fellow veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall, ESPN reported Sunday.
Bryant signed with the Saints last week before tearing his Achilles on the final play of Friday’s practice.
Marshall, who was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 30, worked out for the Saints with Bryant and Kamar Aiken on Tuesday.
A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Marshall recorded 11 receptions for 136 yards — with nine catches for 120 yards coming in his first three games.
–Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green could be sidelined until at least December with a toe injury, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday.
Green avoided surgery on the toe injury he sustained in a 37-34 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 28.
A December return would have Green missing at least three games.
Green was spotted wearing a walking boot on Friday, although the 30-year-old also took it off and walked around without it.
–Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth will donate his game check from Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks to victims and the families of this week’s Borderline Bar and Grill shooting in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
One of Whitworth’s game checks is worth approximately $60,000, per Spotrac.
Whitworth, who is a Thousand Oaks resident, addressed the players following the tragedy.
The team conducted a moment of silence before Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
–The price of using a cell phone in the NFL has not gone up since 2003.
The NFL fined New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas $30,000 for retrieving a cell phone from within the goal post padding and celebrating after scoring a touchdown last week in a 45-35 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Thomas was paying tribute to former Saints wide receiver Joe Horn, who did the same thing to celebrate a score 15 years ago. For what it’s worth, Horn also was fined $30,000.
