The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free agent running back Le'Veon Bell on Wednesday, adding an experienced veteran to an offensive backfield that has recently been thinned by injuries. The Buccaneers did not have to make any corresponding moves as they began the day with four available spots on the 53-man roster.
Bell most recently played five games for the Baltimore Ravens in October and November, logging 31 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, he split time between the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets and ran 82 times for 238 yards and two scores and also caught 16 passes for 138 yards. Bell was on the Chiefs' roster for Super Bowl LV against the Buccaneers in February but did not record any snaps.
The Buccaneers had a need in their running back room after lead back Leonard Fournette suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday night's game in New Orleans. Giovani Bernard, who primarily had operated as a third-down back through the Bucs' first 12 games, landed on injured reserve on December 14. That left Tampa Bay with just two healthy backs on the active roster in Ronald Jones and Ke'Shawn Vaughn before the addition of Bell.
View pictures from running back Le'Veon Bell's NFL career thus far.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) is hit by Buffalo Bills cornerback Ronald Darby (28) and free safety Corey Graham (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs through a tackle by Miami Dolphins free safety Bacarri Rambo during the first half of an AFC wild-card NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Barry Church (42) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell carries the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL divisional football AFC playoff game in Pittsburgh. Defense is the area with the most depth in this year's free agency class, Monday, March 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Wright, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore. A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations says the New York Jets and Bell have agreed to a deal early Wednesday morning, Mach 13, 2019, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal gives new coach Adam Gase and second-year quarterback Sam Darnold a big-time playmaker, arguably the best player at his position before Bell opted to sit out all of last season rather than sign a franchise tender with Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gail Burton, File)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) looks to block running back Le'Veon Bell (26) as Bell scores a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 30-27.(AP Photo/Don Wright)
FILE - In this Oct. 29, 2017, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) smiles during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit. A person with direct knowledge of the negotiations says the New York Jets and Bell have agreed to a deal early Wednesday morning, Mach 13, 2019, a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal gives new coach Adam Gase and second-year quarterback Sam Darnold a big-time playmaker, arguably the best player at his position before Bell opted to sit out all of last season rather than sign a franchise tender with Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
New York Jets' Le'Veon Bell (26) rushes for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell, right, tries to break free from the grasp of New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New York Jets' Le'Veon Bell, right, rushes past Philadelphia Eagles' Rodney McLeod during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Jets' Le'Veon Bell (26) rushes past New England Patriots' John Simon during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Bell had an MRI on one of his knees, and the Jets are awaiting the results to see if the star running back will need to miss any time. Coach Adam Gase says Monday, he's unsure when Bell was injured during New York's 26-18 loss at Miami on Sunday. Gase learned of it Monday morning when Bell had to miss team meetings to undergo the tests.(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell (26) breaks a tackle by Oakland Raiders' Trayvon Mullen (27) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won 34-3. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell (26) reaches toward the end zone as he is forced out bounds by Oakland Raiders' Erik Harris (25) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, file photo, New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs against the Buffalo Bills during an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y. Bell has his sights set on a big-time bounce back. The New York Jets star running back put up pedestrian numbers last season after sitting out a year in a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bell say he's now in the best shape of his career and can't wait to show it on the field. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
File-This Dec. 29, 2019, file photo shows New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell (26) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y. The New York Jets have surprisingly released Bell, ending a disappointing tenure after less than two full seasons. The team issued a statement from general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in which he says the Jets made the move after having several conversations with Bell and his agent during the last few days and exploring trade options. (AP Photo/David Dermer, File)
File-This Oct. 6, 2019, file photo shows New York Jets' Le'Veon Bell, right, rushing past Philadelphia Eagles' Rodney McLeod during the first half of an NFL football game in Philadelphia. The New York Jets have surprisingly released Bell, ending a disappointing tenure after less than two full seasons. The team issued a statement from general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in which he says the Jets made the move after having several conversations with Bell and his agent during the last few days and exploring trade options. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell, right, runs with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Jets safety Ashtyn Davis (32) and others attempt to stop Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell (26) in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell (26) carries the ball against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell (26) gains yardage after catching a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 file photo, Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs as Denver Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye (21) and Denver Broncos defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (93) defend in the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo. Le'Veon Bell and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Leonard Fournette go from losing squads to Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 22, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell (26) carries the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas. Just a few years ago, Bell was arguably the best all-around running back in the league as a do-it-all playmaking force for Pittsburgh. Kansas City signed him and he wasn't much of a factor; he was active but didn't play in the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, File)
Baltimore Ravens running back Le'Veon Bell reacts after scoring a touchdown run against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Baltimore Ravens running back Le'Veon Bell (17) applies a stiff arm on Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens running back Le'Veon Bell runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Baltimore Ravens running back Le'Veon Bell runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Fournette has not been placed on injured reserve but Head Coach Bruce Arians indicated on Monday that Ronald Jones has an opportunity to take over the lead role in the Bucs' backfield, suggesting that Fournette may miss some time. With Fournette and Bernard unavailable, Bell could add value as an accomplished pass-catching back. Bell has 395 career receptions for 3,258 yards and eight touchdowns and has three separate seasons with 75 or more catches.
Bell also has 1,587 career carries for 6,536 yards and 46 touchdowns. He had more than 1,200 yards in each of the 2014, 2016 and 2017 seasons, all with the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning Pro Bowl nods in each of those campaigns. After five seasons in Pittsburgh, the former second-round draft pick out of Michigan State sat out the 2018 season in a contract dispute and then signed with the Jets in 2019.
