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NFL notebook: Season over for Steelers' no-show Bell

[November 14, 2018] Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell did not report to the team before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, meaning he is ineligible to play the rest of the season.

Bell, who has held out the entire year since being franchise-tagged for the second straight time, will forfeit the entirety of his $14.5 million tender and not play in 2018. He already had sacrificed more than $8.5 million by missing the first 10 weeks of the season.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters earlier Tuesday that he had no expectation as to whether Bell would report. Asked about the possibility of Bell not showing, Tomlin responded, "So be it."

Bell is set to hit free agency in March. He is the first player to sit out an entire season on the franchise tag since Washington Redskins defensive lineman Sean Gilbert in 1997. Gilbert cashed in with a seven-year, $46.5 million contract the following offseason with the Carolina Panthers.

--Monday night's marquee matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs will be played in Los Angeles instead of Mexico City because of concerns about the safety of the field.

The game was scheduled for Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, but reports surfaced Tuesday morning that the field wasn't in playing shape. The league made the decision later Tuesday to move the game, after consulting with the NFL Players Association, inspecting the field and meeting with independent experts.

Instead, the game -- for which the Rams are designated the home team -- will be played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

--Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denied reports that he is interested in Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley.

"That would be total drawing it out of the air," Jones said during his weekly radio show on 105.3 The Fan. "Totally speculation."

Riley's name came up Sunday when NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweeted that the Cowboys "have an affinity" for Riley "if they move on from Jason Garrett."

--Nick Mullens will be the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback when the team returns from its bye in Week 12, head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed.

"Nick Mullens is our starter until I say differently," Shanahan told reporters. "Going about it that way, and that's how it'll continue to be."

--Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson is back with the Cincinnati Bengals as special assistant to the head coach.

"I have a great comfort level with Hue and his ability to assist me with the day-to-day responsibilities on defense, including analyzing our opponents and helping me on game days with the players and defensive coaches," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement.

--Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David could miss time with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, according to an ESPN report.

David was hurt early in the second half against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. The team's leading tackler was able to limp off the field and later returned to the game, but his status for Sunday's visit to the New York Giants now appears in doubt.

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Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs the ball against New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) during the third quarter at Heinz Field. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

--The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed former offensive lineman Patrick Omameh, while placing center Brandon Linder on injured reserve.

Omameh was released by the Giants on Saturday, less than eight months after signing a three-year, $15 million contract in free agency and a few weeks after losing his starting job. He spent 2016 and 2017 with the Jaguars, making 20 starts at left guard.

--The Arizona Cardinals placed right guard Justin Pugh on injured reserve with a left knee injury, ending his season.

Pugh reportedly tore the medial collateral ligament in his knee on Sunday, his first game back in the lineup since he broke his left hand in Week 6.

--The Buffalo Bills released wide receiver Terrelle Pryor.

Pryor signed with the Bills on Oct. 30, 10 days after being released by the New York Jets, and made two catches for 17 yards in Week 9. He did not have a catch on three targets in Sunday's 41-10 rout of the Jets.

--The New England Patriots activated second-round rookie cornerback Duke Dawson off injured reserve, the team announced.

Dawson hit IR in early September because of a hamstring injury that kept him out of the final three preseason games. The Patriots reportedly released running back Kenjon Barner and linebacker Nicholas Grigsby.

--The Oakland Raiders released defensive end Kony Ealy a week after signing him.

--Philadelphia Eagles tight end Richard Rodgers returned to practice, giving the team a three-week window to activate him from injured reserve.

--Rams wideout/returner Pharoh Cooper returned to practice, giving the team a three-week window to activate him from injured reserve.

--The Tennessee Titans waived fullback Jalston Fowler and signed undrafted running back Dalyn Dawkins off the practice squad.

(Field Level Media)

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