Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner left the field briefly

and was examined in the blue medical tent along the Steelers sidelines in Week 10. On the play http://www.pittsburghsteelersteamstore.com/joe-haden-jersey , before he headed to the sidelines, Conner took a shot by Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. Conner was helped up, but jogged off and appeared to have no ill effects from the hit. Returning briefly to the game on the last play of the third quarter, Conner did not return to the game after the quarter change. Conner was having a solid game with 13 carries for 65 yards and an 8 yard gain on his lone reception before being sent to the locker room for further evaluation. Steeler fans will question why head coach Mike Tomlin still had the Steelers workhorse in a blowout game while knocking on the door for another score with the team leading 45-14. Conner will have 10 days to pass the concussion protocol before Pittsburgh takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road in Week 11. Concussions are always a tricky injury and even with the extra time, there is no guarantee to pass the protocol necessary to retake the field in time for the game. If Conner cannot pass the protocol, the scenario becomes muddied. Three-time Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell is still not with the team as he continues his extended offseason as he has not signed the franchise tag. Bell has until Tuesday to sign his franchise tag if he intends to play in 2018. Even if Bell signs his tender, it is unclear if the Steelers will activate him or use their two-week roster exemption. The next man up would presumably be journeyman Stevan Ridley. Ridley, the former LSU Tiger Authentic Chris Boswell Jersey , toted the ball eight times for 26 yards but offers little in the passing game and pass protection. Overall in 2018, he has 18 carries for 56 yards (3.1 YPC) and 3 receptions for 18 yards. Ridley made a week 17 start last season, but it was his first in three seasons. Rookie running back Jaylen Samuels would be the third-down specialist and change of pace back. Samuels was ineffective running the ball during the Carolina game rushing 5 times for seven yards but had three receptions for 22 yards and a score. On the season, the former North Carolina St. running back has rushed 10 times for 26 yards while his only catches came in the Thursday night game. The running back situation will be fluid the next week and will be a must see how the Bell situation pans out and if Conners can pass the concussion protocol. The Jaguars game comes at a critical juncture with the Steelers flying high with their five-game winning streak. Jacksonville, on the other hand, has lost three in a row and are buried at the bottom of their division. The Jaguars have the league’s best defense against the pass while they struggle at 24th against the run. Can the Steelers generate a running attack without Bell or Conner to succeed in this all-important game? The cycle of the Le'Veon Bell trade efforts if rivaling the lifespan of the Mayfly.From “no plan” to trade Bell to listening to offers to actively shopping to, most recently, having no serious offers http://www.pittsburghsteelersteamstore.com/terrell-edmunds-jersey , it appears that the Steelers are back to where they were three weeks ago.Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that聽no potential suitors have been aggressive yet, and for good reason. Any team interested in trading for Bell would have to satisfy the Steelers and also persuade Bell to show up, presumably by offering him something more than his $855,000 per week rate, with no guarantee that he’ll be on the team after this season.With the trade deadline four weeks and two days away, the Steelers could (and should) wait to see whether an injury happens to a workhorse tailback on a contending team. Suddenly, someone would be interested in getting Bell for the balance of the season, willing to pay him significantly more than $855 Authentic Alejandro Villanueva Jersey ,000 per week, and unconcerned about Bell leaving next year.A trade nevertheless remains unlikely, and so the question would then become whether the Steelers have shopped Bell as a precursor to rescinding the franchise tender and letting him walks away now, or whether the Steelers hoped to prime the pump for a possible trade next year, in the event Bell sits out the whole season, gets franchise-tagged again in 2019, and would then be traded to a team that could sign him to a long-term deal. Clearance NFL Jerseys