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The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to play the waiting game with All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell, as he is yet to ink the franchise tender that will pay him roughly $14 million for the 2018 season. His absence has opened the door for second-year running back James Conner to take advantage of extended playing time in the preseason.
Conner recently acknowledged that being the case, as he knows that it's Bell's job upon his return. Until that happens, Conner is making the most of his opportunity, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
“When Le'Veon gets back, he's going to start — there's no secret,” Conner said. “I'm just trying to make the most of the reps.”
The former 2017 third-round selection has shown flashes of promise with his play on the field in the first two preseason games, which mostly came in last week's matchup against the Green Bay Packers. He was highly effective running the ball, posting 57 yards on five carries, highlighted by two of those attempts.
The first was a 24-yard burst up the middle that saw him break a couple of tackles and move up the sideline for a huge gain. He followed that up later in the drive with a 26-yard run that saw him blow past Packers defenders while breaking another tackle to get into the end zone.
Although it is just the preseason, Conner's performance should catch the attention of the Steelers, especially given how things have unfolded with Bell. There is no guarantee that he will be back in the fold next season, which could lead to the team turning to Conner in 2019.
Nonetheless, these next two weeks will be an opportunity for the 23-year-old to further showcase his ability on the field and what he can offer the franchise down the line.
