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Report: Jets Looking to Trade former Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell

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Le'Veon Bell Steelers

Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell could be on the move again.

The New York Jets, which signed Bell to a four-year, $52 million contract over the offseason, are looking into trading him before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, according to a report by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Bell has rushed 109 times for 349 yards over the first seven games for the Jets for a career-worst 3.2 yards per carry average. He’s also caught 32 passes for 187 yards and has two total touchdowns.

Under new head coach Adam Gase, Bell was supposed to be one of the key pieces for a revamped Jets team, along with wide receiver Jamison Crowder and linebacker C.J. Mosley.

But the Jets have fallen into a 1-6 hole after poor play from second-year starting quarterback Sam Darnold and an inconsistent offensive line have combined to make the Jets No. 31 in the league in scoring offense and No. 32 in yards per game.

Trading Bell would leave the Jets with significant salary cap penalties, accruing a $6 million dead cap hit in 2020.

The Steelers could potentially be in the market for a running back this week, with James Conner, Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell all dealing with injuries, but they don’t have what the Jets would likely be looking for in exchange for Bell — a 2020 first-round draft pick — which the Steelers already traded to Miami for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.