Bell is interested in returning to the NFL for the 2024 season and indicated the Steelers are the only team he would be willing to play for, ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bell said he intends to start training for a potential comeback in March, adding, "If I hit April and I make this decision to come back to play in the NFL again, mark my words down -- I will be better than I ever was." The soon-to-be 32-year-old hasn't suited up for NFL action since 2021, and his last season cracking 1,000 rushing yards was back in 2017 with the Steelers. Pittsburgh looks set atop the RB depth chart with both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren still under contract, and it's unclear how much, if anything, Bell truly has left in the tank, but if the veteran is open to a modest, team-friendly deal, a reunion with coach Mike Tomlin might not be out of the question.

Bell said Tuesday that he doesn't plan to play in the NFL this coming season, as he instead plans to shift his focus to boxing, ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old -- who is a free agent -- has a scheduled bout with another veteran running back, Adrian Peterson, on July 30. While Peterson hasn't ruled out continuing his NFL career, at this stage Bell isn't considering that option as the 2022 season approaches. In eight appearances (five with Baltimore and three with Tampa Bay) in 2021, Bell logged 39 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns while adding five catches for 30 yards and a score.

Bell signed a contract for a boxing match July 30 against fellow NFL running back Adrian Peterson, ESPN's Mike Coppinger reports.

EDGE Analysis

Bell hasn't announced his retirement, but this can be taken as a sign that he either isn't focused on his football career or else isn't getting opportunities. It's possible his brief stint with the Bucs at the end of last season will be Bell's final NFL action, as he's now 30 years old and a half decade removed from his Pittsburgh peak (2014-17).

The Buccaneers have waived Bell, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

The move frees up a roster spot for the activation of fellow running back Leonard Fournette (hamstring) from injured reserve. Per Greg Auman of The Athletic, if Bell clears waivers as expected, the Buccaneers can bring him back to their practice squad, but for now the team will proceed with a backfield comprised of Fournette, Ke'Shawn Vaughn and Giovani Bernard. Ronald Jones is out this week with an ankle injury.

Bell, who was active for Sunday's wild-card win over the Eagles but did not log a snap from scrimmage, finished the regular season with 39 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns and five receptions for 30 yards and another score over eight games with the Ravens and Buccaneers. He also had a two-point conversion run for Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

Bell saw his first regular-season action Week 4 against the Broncos while with the Ravens and ultimately suited up for five games with Baltimore before being jettisoned after Week 10. After five weeks on the open market, the one-time Pro Bowler landed in Tampa Bay and was active for the last three games of the regular season, recording a two-point conversion rush versus his old Jets squad Week 17 and a one-yard receiving touchdown Week 18 versus the Panthers. Even with Leonard Fournette (hamstring) still on IR and Ronald Jones (ankle) inactive for the wild-card matchup Sunday, Bell didn't see the field, so his chances of any action in Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Rams appear slim.

Bell rushed three times for 14 yards and brought in his only target for a one-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 41-17 win over the Panthers on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran running back served as the No. 2 option behind Ke'Shawn Vaughn with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and was productive with his limited touches. Bell's one-yard scoring grab with 15 seconds remaining in the first half served as his first touchdown since Week 9 against the Vikings, when he was with the Ravens. If either Jones or Leonard Fournette (IR-hamstring) are able to make it back for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Eagles, Bell could well end up a healthy scratch or used even more sparsely than he was Sunday.

Bell and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will be the Buccaneers' primary running backs Sunday versus the Panthers with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani Bernard (hip/knee) still on injured reserve, Joey Knight and Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times report.

EDGE Analysis

After Fournette was forced to IR due to a hamstring strain following a Week 15 loss to the Saints, Bell was brought in as insurance for the Tampa Bay backfield. Jones stepped in as the No. 1 running back for the ensuing two contests, but he suffered an ankle injury himself this past Sunday at the Jets and will miss the season finale. Vaughn likely will serve as the team's top RB in Week 18, what with averaging 6.7 yards on his 18 carries over the last three games. But Bell should get in the mix, too, after taking five carries for four yards and hauling in all three targets for 30 yards in two outings as a member of the Bucs. Behind Vaughn and Bell, Kenjon Barner also is a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad to provide a bit more depth to the position.

Bell rushed three times for five yards and secured all three targets for 30 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-24 win over the Jets on Sunday. He also had a two-point conversion run.

EDGE Analysis

In his second game as a Buccaneer, Bell came through with his trademark receiving skills on an important drive in the game. The veteran recorded two of his three catches on a early fourth-quarter possession that culminated in a Ryan Succop 27-yard field goal to bring Tampa Bay within four points. Bell could see his role expand further in Week 18 against the Panthers with both Ronald Jones (ankle) and Ke'Shawn Vaughn (ribs) dealing with injuries and the offense down another pass catcher with the imminent release of Antonio Brown.

Bell logged just three snaps from scrimmage in the Buccaneers' 32-6 win over the Panthers on Sunday and netted minus-1 yard on two carries.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran had just joined the team early in the week, so his sparse involvement was no surprise. Bell was a distant third in the backfield pecking order behind Ronald Jones and Ke'Shawn Vaughn, and that scenario will likely carry over into a Week 17 road matchup against the Jets.

The Buccaneers signed Bell on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Bell's presence will help provide depth in a backfield that could be without Leonard Fournette (hamstring) for at least three weeks, if he indeed ends up on injured reserve, as anticipated. Ronald Jones is expected to serve as the Bucs' No. 1 running back sans Fournette, while a combination of Bell and Ke'Shawn Vaughn compete for complementary work. Across five games in Baltimore this season, Bell averaged just 2.7 yards per carry and hauled in one of three targets for negative one yards, though he did score twice on the ground.