Sep 28, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – After watching his high-powered offense fizzle out like a defective M-80 last week in Philadelphia, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger isn’t ready to hit the panic button.

Roethlisberger has a quick fix in mind for the Steelers – running back Le’Veon Bell.

While wide receiver Antonio Brown had a typical day, catching 12 passes for 140 yards on 18 passes thrown his direction in the 34-3 loss, the Steelers’ other receivers had a tough game.

On passes that did not target Brown, Roethlisberger was only 12 of 36 for 117 yards, an issue the Steelers (2-1) hope to solve when they host the Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) Sunday night.

That, according to Roethlisberger, is where Bell fits in.

“We’re not going to put him at wide receiver and use DeAngelo (Williams) at running back,” Roethlisberger said. “But, we will, I think, have them both on the field and move him out of the backfield. We’re not going to take the RB off the front of his name and put WR, but I definitely think that he’s one of our best receivers.”

Williams filled in for Bell during the first three games while the latter was serving a suspension for violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He gained 258 yards on 66 carries and ranks second on the team with 14 pass receptions but for an average of only 6.4 yards per catch.

Roethlisberger says the Steelers could formations with both in the backfield and then splits Bell to wide receiver. That would not only keep two of the team’s best offensive players on the field at the same time but give a run-pass option.

“We’re still dabbling,” Roethlisberger admitted.

Bell was second on the team in receptions to Brown in 2014 – the last time played a full season – setting a team record for running backs with 83 catches for 854 yards.

“He does everything,” Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said of Bell. “He can catch. He can block. He can run. His screen game is good. Ben likes throwing him the ball. He’s an all-around good player.”

The lack of a secondary receiver to Brown has been an issue for the Steelers this season. Veteran receiver Markus Wheaton sat out the first two games with a back injury and was rusty in his return against the Eagles, dropping three passes, including one in the end zone on the opening possession.

Without Wheaton for the first two weeks and veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey limited mostly to a special-teams role, the Steelers utilized a grouping that included receivers Eli Rogers and Sammie Coates along with tight ends Jesse James and Xavier Grimble. Those four players combined had nine career receptions entering this season. Each had their moments in the first two games but largely struggled to get open against the Eagles.

With the return of Bell, and Wheaton having shaken off the rust caused by back and shoulder injuries that kept him out of most of the preseason, Roethlisberger has more options available.

“He’s going to be harder on himself than anyone else, so I don’t need to bring him down any more, just keep building him up and let him know that I have faith and trust in him,” Roethlisberger said of Wheaton. “He was down pretty early and just to get back out there was good for him and for all of us. (I) fully expect him to bounce back and have a great week of practice.”

He also doesn’t expect it to take long for Bell to get back into the swing of things.

During his suspension, Bell could be in the locker room and work out at the team facility.

“He’s been working hard. We’ve been able to talk to him, communicate, when he’s been allowed to be here for meetings and stuff,” Roethlisberger said. “I think the mental side of it is the big area, the question mark, because, there are some new things.

“I know he’ll be ready to go in practice and ask questions as we go, so I don’t foresee there being any issue at all.”

Guard Cody Wallace (knee), cornerback Senquez Golson (foot), safety Robert Golden (hamstring), guard Ramon Foster (chest), Rogers (toe) and linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) did not practice Wednesday. … Safety Jordan Dangerfield said he worked with the first-team defense at practice, and cornerback Justin Gilbert said he expects to see his first playing time since joining the Steelers three weeks ago in a trade with Cleveland. … Guard B.J. Finney, who replaced Foster against the Eagles, said he’s excited about making his first career start against the Chiefs. Finney, who grew up in Kansas a fan of the Steelers and played collegiately at Kansas State, said some of his family members remain Chiefs fans.