According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bucs are signing free agent running back Le’Veon Bell. Over the past two weeks, the team has lost Giovani Bernard to injured reserve and Leonard Fournette to a hamstring injury. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bucs are expected to place Fournette on injured reserve. That will end Fournette’s regular season. While the Bucs leading rusher is out, Bell will serve as meaningful depth for the Bucs.

If Fournette’s regular season is over, he’ll finish as the team’s leading rusher with 812 yards on 180 carries. Fournette also scored eight times on the ground and twice through the air. He caught 69 passes for 454 yards while becoming an every-down back for the Bucs. Most notably, Fournette’s pass protection improved by leaps and bounds. The hope is that Fournette can return for the playoffs.

As for Bell, he still needs to pass a Wednesday physical before the team signs him. The former All-Pro back played five games for the Ravens this season, rushing 31 times for 83 yards. Once considered one of the best running backs in the NFL, Bell has been a shell of himself since his final season in Pittsburgh in 2017. After sitting out the 2018 season, Bell disappointed for the Jets before short stints with the Chiefs in 2020.

In his prime, Bell was known as an elite receiving and pass-protecting back. With Ronald Jones and Ke’Shawn Vaughn struggling in that area, it’s likely where Bell will receive some snaps. Almost 65 percent of his snaps in Baltimore came on passing downs. Still, Bell caught just one pass for -3 yards in five games.

The move will also reunite Bell with former teammate Antonio Brown. The two former Pro Bowlers played together in Pittsburgh for four years at the height of their powers.