Report: Bell won't play in Week 1, loses $853K game check

It'll be the James Conner show in Pittsburgh - at least for Week 1.

As expected, Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell won't report to the team by Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline. He will, therefore, miss Sunday's season opener against the Cleveland Browns and give up his $853,000 game check as a result, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The franchise-tagged Bell has held out all summer in hopes of forcing the Steelers to hand over a record-setting contract. It was assumed he'd return to the team prior to the first game of the regular season, as he did while on the tag last year, but he surprised many by failing to report during the week.

Related: Steelers' Conner ready to shoulder load as Bell holdout continues

Bell's absence was met with ire from some of his Steelers teammates, with members of the offensive line being especially critical of the veteran back.

A third-round pick from the 2017 draft, Conner saw limited action in his rookie year but impressed in the preseason, racking up 100 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries and adding another 61 yards on seven catches.

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