Second-round rookie running back Ameer Abdullah has a ton of upside and undrafted rookie Zach Zenner has been lighting it up this preseason, but neither will be overtaking Joique Bell as the Detroit Lions starting running back anytime soon.
Bell was activated off the physically unable to perform list Monday and immediately re-assumed first-team duties ahead of Abdullah, Zenner, Theo Riddick and George Winn, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reported. The Lions also listed Bell first on their depth chart even though he's not expected to see the field in Thursday's preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills.
"I did everything with the ones," Bell said. "I was limited, as far as reps, but I did everything. Everything from team blitz to regular team."
The Lions have put a new emphasis on rushing the ball this year after struggling to do so last season. Detroit finished 2014 as just the 28th ranked rushing attack, averaging 88.9 yards-per-game on the ground. Bell failed to crack 4.0 yards-per-carry and posted a career low 322 receiving yards. As a result, Detroit invested their first-round pick into guard Laken Tomlinson and traded for center Manny Ramirez to bolster their run game.
Despite the somewhat down season, Bell still brings skills as a between-the-tackles runner and pass-catcher to the table.
"He's the guy," Abdullah said. "He's the guy who has done it before, you know? We're all chasing him."
Coach Jim Caldwell rarely ever tips his hand and has thus far refrained from naming a definitive starter for Week 1.
"Right now, he's just getting back," Caldwell said. "We'll see where he is. Nobody's even said he's going to be ready to go, you know, he's out there practicing. We're trying to get him there, but, you know, there's no guarantees at this point, so we'll wait and see."
Bell has missed the past eight months with knee and Achilles injuries. He had said during the offseason that we would return in time for OTAs, and then later said he's be healthy enough for training camp, though neither ended up happening.
Despite this, Bell insists that he's ahead of schedule.
"Right now, I've exceeded my expectations," he said. "So it feels good...I didn't know exactly where I'd be right now, but I didn't think I'd be this far ahead. I definitely feel good right now."
The Lions open the regular season against the San Diego Chargers who ranked 26th against the run last year.
