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Le'Veon Bell felt rusty, but is now ready for Week 4 against the Vikings

The Steelers look for what could be the last addition to the team before a season spirals out of control.

By Neal Coolong
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport

Amid a perception problem with his quarterback, rookie running back Le'Veon Bell is preparing to make his first NFL appearance Sunday when the Steelers take on the Minnesota Vikings in London.

Bell told Tribune-Review reporter Alan Robinson he felt a bit rusty last week, but ultimately, he's set to go for Week 4.

"I don't feel like I'm rushing it. At the end of the day I'm going to have a long career. I feel like I'm ready now, and I'm ready to help this team win games.

"If my foot can't go, I'm not going to go. But foot hasn't showed any signs of any setbacks or anything, so I'm moving forward and getting ready for the game now," Bell said.

The Steelers had a mini explosion in their running game - a unit currently ranking 31st in the NFL - rushing 21 times for 80 yards. They have yet to reach the end zone on the ground, one of four teams in the league 0-for-the-end-zone in the rushing game.

Bell is being seen as something of a solution to that. Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert told Robinson he sees Bell as a "three-dimensional" back, and proceeds to list five areas in which Bell excels, including catching the ball out of the backfield, running downhill, running power plays, running outside zone and blocking. To whatever end the Steelers will incorporate all of these traits, they need a running back to make something out of whatever he is being given.

It hasn't happened yet, and the season may be essentially over with a loss against Minnesota.

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