Lions 'majorly concerned' with getting RB Bell healthy

The Detroit Lions are counting on Joique Bell to be a big part of their offense this fall, but no one can say how soon he'll be back on the field.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said during a brief meeting with beat reporters today that he doesn't have a timetable for Bell's return from the knee and Achilles surgery that kept him out all off-season.

The Lions placed Bell and fellow starters LaAdrian Waddle and Jason Jones on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week, and none will be on the field when the Lions hold their first practice of training camp Monday.

Bell led the Lions with 860 yards rushing last year, and the team is counting on him to be a big part of the offense again this fall, despite having drafted Ameer Abdullah in the second round.

"From a schematic standpoint, he understands and knows how to run the ball, he knows the system," Caldwell said. "We're just majorly concerned right now with, obviously, getting him healthy, and he's well on his way to that."

Caldwell declined to say whether Bell is still bothered by his knee or Achilles, but said he, Waddle and Jones are "all making excellent progress" in their rehabs.

Jones, who underwent arthroscopic surgery last month, is expected back early in camp, while Waddle has targeted Week 1 of the regular season for his return.

"Like I said, I'm not sure how long it's going to take (with Bell)," Caldwell said. "I do know one thing, that he's coming along quickly, and we'll see what the doctor says. I can't put an exact timetable on it right now. That's the tough thing about even talking about medical. Sometimes you don't know."

With Bell out, Abdullah and Theo Riddick should see plenty of action at running back this preseason, and both are expected to play a key role in the Lions' offense this year.

Riddick caught 34 passes and scored four touchdowns as the Lions' third running back last year. Abdullah, a rookie out of Nebraska, had an impressive spring and is expected to see time as both a running back and return man.

"We still feel good about where he is, what he's done, the ability he has," Caldwell said of Abdullah. "And I know you guys know it, but this is a tough game and for young guys to come into this league and stand out is difficult. It's just not easy to do, and it takes awhile. So we'll see. We like where he is, we like where all of our young guys are, but we've got a ways to go yet."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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