Jets fans will get a glimpse of Le’Veon Bell in his new uniform Thursday night, but not during the game.
Bell will not play in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Giants at MetLife Stadium, according to a source. He will, however, participate in the pregame warm-ups with his new teammates at his request.
The star running back wants to continue to shake off the rust and get acclimated to his new team after sitting out the 2018 season because of a contract dispute with the Steelers. Bell asked Jets coach Adam Gase if he could warm up with the team even if he was not playing to get some work in and Gase agreed.
Gase has said the Jets will be cautious with Bell’s workload and having him sit out the game against the Giants meshes with that. The Jets starters likely will only play one or two series anyway.
The Jets signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5 million contract in March and are hoping he can be a key piece in their offense and aid in the development of quarterback Sam Darnold.
On Tuesday, Gase talked about how tricky it is with veteran players and the preseason. Throw in Bell’s absence last season and the decision has another major factor.
“It’s tough,” Gase said before citing an example from last year when he coached the Dolphins. “That’s why this is not as easy as, like last year, it was easy — Frank Gore is a great example. I was like, ‘Frank, you are not playing in the preseason.’ He was in my office every day the third preseason game and he was like, ‘I’m playing.’ It’s hard to argue with Frank Gore (laughter). He’s not listening to what I’m saying. He’s just like, ‘I’m playing. I will be dressed whether or not you put me in a game.’ We ended up playing him one series and then he stood next to me for the next two series and says, ‘I’m going back in. I’m going back in.’
“It’s maddening with a guy like that that wants to play that bad and it is a fine line with Le’Veon, he hasn’t played in a year. At the same time, when’s the right time? Is it this game? Is it the next one? Is it the next one? Do we just not play him this preseason? Do we go through the whole time and just give him reps? All those questions are what we keep talking about.”
It is unclear if Bell will play at all this preseason, but he will be a spectator for the opener.