Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell suspended three games by NFL for DUI arrest

Pitt RB LeVeon Bell suspended 3 games, fined additional game check for violating substance abuse policy, per league sources. He is appealing

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 9, 2015

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell for the first three games of the upcoming NFL season for a DUI arrest stemming back to August 2014 traffic stop in Pittsburgh. Bell violating the league's new substance abuse policy is what lead to the suspension. LeGarrette Blount was recently suspended for one-game for his role in the incident, also violating the league's substance abuse policy.

On top of the three-game ban for Bell, he was also fined an additional game check. However, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Bell plans on appealing the sanctions.

The suspension will begin with opening day 2015, leaving the team very thin at the running back position in terms of depth during his absence. The only running backs currently on the team's roster are newly acquired DeAngelo Williams, Dri Archer and Josh Harris.

With speculation swirling in regards to what games Bell will miss, the official NFL schedule won't be released until mid April. Several experts feel the Steelers could kick off the season against the New England Patriots in Foxborough. If that does indeed occur, both teams would be without their primary running backs as Blount, now with New England, would also be suspended for the first game of the season.