The Steelers can apply to the NFL for a two-week roster exemption once All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell does sign his franchise tender. And if the league grants the Steelers the exemption, it will be up to them whether Bell gets paid $853,000 in each of the first two weeks of the season.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated Tuesday the Steelers will apply for the exemption, which would allow the team to carry 54 players for two weeks. Bell did not report Monday, the day the Steelers expected him to return. Bell played on the franchise tag last season and reported on Labor Day. The Steelers did not use the roster exemption then because they believed he was in good enough shape to play in the opener against the Browns.
By delaying his reporting date this year, Bell opened himself up to the possibility of losing $1.7 million of his $14.5 fully guaranteed salary for the 2018 season.
Tomlin said Tuesday afternoon that he hadn’t given much thought to how he will handle the return of Bell.
“I hadn’t thought about it,” Tomlin said. “We’ll see. When he gets here that’s when we’ll start quantifying all Le’Veon Bell-related things. We’ll weigh all of those things at the appropriate time.”
When that is remains unknown, although Bell’s teammates have hinted he will report by Wednesday. Tomlin said he has not been in contact with Bell this week, and he made it clear Tuesday the Steelers are full-steam ahead in preparing for the Browns with the players who are present.
Injury update
Tomlin provided some good news on the injury front. All players who experienced injuries during training camp and were held out of the preseason games are expected to participate in practice in some capacity this week. That includes tight end Vance McDonald, who missed the past month with a foot injury, and receiver Antonio Brown, who did not play in any of the four preseason games.
Tomlin also mentioned receiver James Washington (abdominal muscle), cornerback Mike Hilton (lower body), outside linebacker T.J. Watt (hamstring) and tight end Xavier Grimble as players who will return to practice and have a chance to play against the Browns.
“We’ll watch some of those guys and divide the labor up and utilize their talents accordingly,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin on Dobbs
Tomlin also addressed the decision to keep second-year quarterback Josh Dobbs over veteran Landry Jones, who had been the primary backup to Ben Roethlisberger since the middle of the 2015 season. He said Dobbs’ consistency and his ability to take a big step in his development from year 1 to year 2 was the biggest factor in the decision.
“It was a very difficult decision,” Tomlin said. “That speaks to the process that we had a good 90 [man roster]. It wasn’t about what Landry did or didn’t do. It was about what Josh did. He rose up in the face of it and provided good and consistent play for us. We got very comfortable with his second-year development.”
Dobbs, who has never taken a snap in an NFL regular-season game, is the backup, but Tomlin did not close the door on rookie third-round pick Mason Rudolph also getting reps with the first- and second-team offense in practice. In previous years, the third-string quarterback mostly ran the scout team and did very little with the Steelers’ offense.
“I’m not suggesting he’s only going to get scout team reps,” Tomlin said. “We’re going to continue with his work and development. This is not a finished product as we kick out of the gates. We better be a group on the rise in all aspects of our game.”
Adjustments needed?
The Steelers will be facing former assistant coach Todd Haley for the first time since the team decided against renewing his contract after last season ended. Haley was the offensive coordinator from 2012-17.
The Steelers won’t be able to use their usual language when Roethlisberger checks into different plays at the line of scrimmage because of Haley’s familiarity with those checks. Tomlin said the team changes its language from week to week anyway because live microphones pick up those checks on game telecasts.
The one area where Tomlin believes the Steelers might have an advantage is Cleveland not knowing how first-time offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner will call a game. Fichtner has been an assistant with the Steelers since 2007, but he hasn’t been a coordinator since his days at Memphis University.
“Sometimes there are challenges that come with transition,” Tomlin said. “Sometimes there are benefits.”
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: September 4, 2018, 4:52 p.m.
