Bell unlikely to play this season NFL ROUNDUP
Le’Veon Bell’s season and days with the Steelers appear to be over.
The running back is unlikely to end his holdout and report to the team by Tuesday’s deadline, according to ESPN. Bell, 26, must report by 4 p.m. or he will be ineligible to play the rest of the season after the Steelers used the franchise tag on him for a second straight year.
Without him, Pittsburgh is currently 6-2-1 and leading the AFC North.
SAINTS: Dez Bryant’s season is over before it had even begun.
The Saints placed the newly acquired Bryant on injured reserve Saturday, promoting receiver Keith Kirkwood from the practice squad to the active roster before Sunday’s game at Cincinnati.
Bryant was injured during his second practice with New Orleans on Friday. A person familiar with the situation says Bryant has a torn Achilles tendon.
The 30-year-old Bryant became a free agent in April after eight seasons with Dallas. He’d been looking for a new team until signing with New Orleans on Wednesday.
The 6-foot-3 Kirkwood is a 24-year-old undrafted rookie out of Temple.
Meanwhile, star Saints receiver Michael Thomas has been fined $30,000 by the NFL for using a phone as a prop for a touchdown celebration in last week’s victory over the Rams.
Thomas emulated former Saints wideout Joe Horn with his celebration, hiding the phone in the bottom of the goal post and pulling it out after scoring. He was fined for that and having a mobile device in the bench area.
PATRIOTS: Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has missed two of the past three games because of injuries, is not expected to play in Sunday’s road game against the Titans, according to ESPN.
Gronkowski, listed as questionable, was limited in practice with back and ankle injuries. He made the trip with the team, according to ESPN, leaving open the possibility he could still play and allowing the Patriots to wait until inactives are released 90 minutes before kickoff to make a final decision.