Steelers’ Bell will play today
Comes off exempt list
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has been activated from the exempt list and will be available for today’s game against the Browns in Cleveland.
Bell signed his franchise tender on Sept. 4, and the team had a two-week exemption for him.
Bell practiced all week, and said it felt good to put the pads back on.
“I felt totally normal. It’s a great feeling,” he said. “I felt normal. It’s unbelievable how I felt. I didn’t even think about it. It felt good to put pads back on, break a nice little sweat in practice.”
While Bell took a few hits in practice when the pads were on, he said he just wants to get that first touch today, whether it’s a run or pass play.
“The first time you get tackled or do a blitz pickup, you know you are ready,” said Bell. “That didn’t happen yet.”
To make room on the team’s 53-man roster, the Steelers released linebacker Steven Johnson.
In other Steelers news, defensive end Stephon Tuitt agreed on a new contract that runs through the 2022 season.
Tuitt, a second-round pick in the 2014 draft, had one year remaining on his rookie deal.
Janikowski on IR
The Oakland Raiders placed longtime kicker Sebastian Janikowski on injured reserve with an injured back and promoted Giorgio Tavecchio to the active roster.
The team made the move a day before the season opener against the Titans. The Raiders had signed Tavecchio on Friday as insurance if Janikowski wasn’t healed and brought him to Tennessee in case he needed to be activated.
Janikowski has been bothered in recent weeks by the back injury and the Raiders brought in Josh
Lambo, Mike Nugent and Marshall Koehn for workouts earlier this week.
The team also reportedly renegotiated Janikowski’s contract, cutting his salary from $4 million to $3 million.
Janikowski will have to miss at least eight weeks. Oakland could choose to designate him as one of two players to return from injured reserve this season.
Donald joins Rams
All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald reported to the Los Angeles Rams, ending his four-month holdout without getting a new contract.
Donald passed his physical when he reported to the Rams’ training complex, but the three-time Pro Bowl selection will not play in today’s season opener at the Coliseum against Indianapolis. Coach Sean McVay ruled him out for the open- er Friday.
Donald stayed away from the Rams starting in May, holding out through offseason team activities, training camp and the entire preseason while attempt- ing to get a lucrative new contract. The Rams agreed that Donald deserved a pay raise after just three stand- out seasons, and they held months of civil negotiations with the star’s repre- sentatives.
The sides couldn’t reach a deal, but they intend to continue talks even with Donald back in uniform, the Rams announced.
Fins head to Calif.
A person familiar with the situation says the Miami Dolphins have evacuated South Florida before the arrival of Hurricane Irma and will practice in Oxnard, Calif., next week to prepare for their delayed start of the season.
The person said team owner Stephen Ross flew players, coaches, traveling staff and their families to Los Angeles on Friday as the hurricane approached Florida. Other players who had already left the state in advance of Irma are also arriving in Los Angeles.
The person said the Dolphins will have a team meeting Tuesday and will practice beginning Wednesday at the Dallas Cowboys’ complex in Oxnard . . . .
Defensive end Akiem Hicks and the Chicago Bears have agreed to a fouryear contract extension through the 2021 season.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said it’s a $48 million deal with $30 million guaranteed, confirming an ESPN report.
Hicks signed with Chicago last year after spending his first four seasons with the Saints and Patriots.
He was one of the Bears’ best performers on defense last season, starting 16 games and setting career highs with seven sacks and three pass breakups.