Lost in the post-game firestorm over Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin's sideline antics was Le'Veon Bell's injury after the rookie running back had his helmet drilled off his head by a ferocious hit that appeared to briefly knock him out in Thursday's 22-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Bell, who suffered a concussion, said Monday that he didn't remember scoring a touchdown that was reversed upon review because his helmet came off on the play.
"I don't remember the exact play," Bell said, per the Steelers' 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."
Bell said he ran a bit during Monday's practice and is hopeful to play Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
"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."
Tomlin told reporters Tuesday that Bell is progressing through the league's concussion protocol but the rookie currently looks good.
If the running back is able to play after the violent hit, it would be a huge boost to the Steelers' draining playoff chances. Bell clearly is the team's best runner. While he has had an up-and-down rookie season behind a laboring, banged-up offensive line, Pittsburgh's run game has been putrid without him.
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