It was earlier reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN that embattled Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is planning to report to his team in the coming Week 7 bye. Schefter also followed up on that report by saying that the Steelers can apply the transition tag on Bell as an option to keep the former Michigan State Spartans star in Pittsburgh for at least another year beyond the 2018 NFL season.

The relationship between Bell and the Steelers have been significantly eroded over a contract disagreement. Bell is currently on a prolonged holdout, as he continues to let Pittsburgh’s franchise tag offer unsigned on his table. That franchise tag offer is a one-year, $14.5 million deal, but Bell has long insisted on a longer and more lucrative contract from the Steelers.

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The transition tag is a supposedly a cheaper option for the Steelers to retain the services of Bell next year. While the franchise tag sets Bell’s salary around the average of the top five pays at the running back position, the transition tag has it around the mean of the top 10 salaries of players in the same position.

However, Bell can still sign with another team in case Pittsburgh applies the transition tag on him, provided that the Steelers will not be able to match any offer that the running back would field in the free agent market next year.

The Steelers need playmakers, especially in the backfield. While second-year running back James Conner has been a solid placeholder for Bell, Pittsburgh is just a much more dangerous offensive unit when Bell is the one doing the heavy lifting in the running game.