Dec 13, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin started calling star running back Le’Veon Bell “Juice” in the 2015 offseason in part because he ran so much like O.J. Simpson, the original “Juice.”

Or maybe it’s because he seems to run on an unending supply of electricity.

Either way, it has turned out to be a fitting name as Bell should be running his way into the NFL MVP race.

At his current pace, Bell will break Simpson’s NFL record for average yards from scrimmage per game (160.2), set in a 14-game regular season in 1975.

After going for a career-high 298 yards last Sunday in Pittsburgh’s 27-20 win at Buffalo – ironically, where Simpson spent the majority of his NFL career – Bell is averaging 161.6 yards from scrimmage per game.

Up next for Bell and the Steelers (8-5) will be the Cincinnati Bengals (5-7-1), a team that has ended his season in each of the previous two years.

In 2014, Bell suffered a sprained knee in the first half of a Week 17 game against the Bengals on a hit by safety Reggie Nelson. It forced him to miss the Steelers’ playoff game against Baltimore.

Last year, Bell suffered two torn knee ligaments on a tackle by linebacker Vontaze Burfict in a Nov. 1 game. The injuries ended Bell’s season.

Bell isn’t concerned with those injuries. He’s focused on helping the Steelers win the AFC North, something that was helped by Baltimore’s loss Monday night in New England. It left the Ravens one game behind Pittsburgh with three to play.

“We know what’s at stake here,” Bell said. “We can’t have any time for setbacks. We can’t pat ourselves on the back after a good win or good performance.

“Next week is going to be a tough game. It’s an AFC North opponent, so we have to get ready for that.”

In 2014, the 24-year-old Bell set a team record with 2,215 yards from scrimmage. But even then, he didn’t make the impact he has this season, particularly in the past four games. Bell hasn’t just been part of the Steelers’ offense, Pittsburgh has run everything through him.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said that has been a natural progression as Bell has matured as a player.

“All areas,” Tomlin said of where he’s seen Bell improve. “Intellectually, understanding of the game, not necessarily what it is he does but how it fits into the bigger picture. The intellectual conversations with him are much different today than they were then.

“Just understanding how to play the position, the nuances of the position, the protection of the ball and the protection of himself. He’s a guy who’s got some talent. But equally or more importantly than that talent, he’s got a desire to be great and some work ethic to boot. He’s a much better conditioned athlete today than he was in 2014. So I mean it when I say all areas.”

Though Tonlin and Bell won’t say it publicly, that also includes off the field.

Bell was suspended for the first two games of the 2015 season after being arrested for a DUI and marijuana possession in August of 2014. He was suspended three games to open this season for missing three mandatory drug tests at the end of the 2015 regular season – when he was rehabbing a knee injury – and in the ensuing offseason.

Bell passed multiple drug tests in the offseason, including a court-mandated one that helped get the incident expunged from his record, but was suspended for the first three games of this season.

Missing those three games will cost Bell an opportunity to set the NFL’s all-time record for yards from scrimmage in a season of 2,509 set in 2009 by Chris Johnson of Tennessee. Bell can take solace in knowing Johnson averaged 156.8 yards per game that season, five yards fewer than Bell’s current average.

He also can point to the fact the Steelers are playing well and he’s been the catalyst.

“I just think my work ethic really shows,” Bell said. “I don’t think there are a lot of backs that can do the things that I can do.”

Tomlin said guard B.J. Finney, who started Sunday in place of injured Ramon Foster, had concussion symptoms following the game and has been placed in concussion protocol. … Nose tackle Javon Hargrave, who missed last week’s game, remains in concussion protocol. … Tomlin said Foster (chest), running back DeAngelo Williams (knee) and safety Shamarko Thomas (concussion) each have a good chance to play Sunday. … Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) is likely out.