Le'Veon Bell does not remember much from his Thanksgiving game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back was knocked out of the game after suffering a goal line head-to-head collision. The concussion reportedly cost Bell his memory of the even and could also cost him Week 14 playing time.
Bell was hit so hard that it knocked his helmet clear off his head. He had to be helped off the field and did not return to the game. Speaking to media for the first time since the injury, Bell said he does not remember the touchdown attempt that caused the injury.
"I don't remember the exact play," Bell said, per the team's official website. "I didn't remember it when it first happened. Once I came off the field I didn't really know I had scored. Then they told me I did; then they told me it wasn't a touchdown. I wasn't aware of what was going on at the time because I got hit. I can't really remember what happened."
The rookie running back has developed into a top offensive threat for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so losing him for any amount of time is not good. Bell will have to undergo concussion protocol before he can be considered healthy for the team's Week 14 game. Bell notes that he feels fine right now, but understands the decision is not up to him.
"I feel good. I felt like I started to feel better the next day," Bell said. "After the hit I was out of it a little bit, but the next day I woke up and was feeling better and have felt progressively better each day."
If Bell is unable to play, the ground game of the Steelers offense takes a big hit. Pittsburgh will host the weaker Miami Dolphins and win could boost the team's playoff chances down the stretch. Jonathan Dwyer would start in Bell's place. He is the second-leading rusher on the team, but hundreds of yards separate him and Bell. On the season, Bell has 528 yards rushing, while Dwyer has 146 yards total.
It is too early to tell what the status of Bell is going forward this week. Memory loss certainly does not bode well for his potential to start in Week 14.
