Le'Veon Bell plans to return to Pittsburgh Steelers during Week 7 bye: Source

If Le'Veon Bell is planning to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Week 7 bye, it would be news to head coach Mike Tomlin.

"I have not talked to Le'Veon and I really have no Le'Veon update," Tomlin said Tuesday in response to reports Bell would be back in two weeks. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Nothing has changed from my perspective in that regard."

A source told ESPN on Monday that Bell would return before Week 8 and likely during the team's Bye Week 7.

Bell also spoke with ESPN on Monday, saying, "It sucks having to sit out football. I want to play. I want to win games and the playoffs. But I've gotta take this stand. Knowing my worth and knowing I can tear a ligament or get surgery at any time, I knew I couldn't play 16 games with 400 or more touches."

Over the summer, the Steelers reportedly offered Bell a five-year, $70 million contract, but Bell baulked because only $17 million was guaranteed. Big-name running backs Todd Gurley and David Johnson, who signed new contracts, received at least double that amount guaranteed.

"I know the guaranteed money will be there (in March)," Bell said. "If a team wanted to, they could definitely do what they needed to do to make me happy and satisfied."