Report: Bell will likely return to Steelers at start of next week

Le'Veon Bell is expected to end his holdout and return to the Pittsburgh Steelers by the start of next week, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday.

"(He's) expected to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, not this week but likely at the start or right before the start of next week, which is consistent with his schedule the entire time," Rapoport said on "Total Access," according to Conor Orr of NFL.com. "This has always been Le'Veon Bell's plan. Stay home, train in Florida. ... Let the Steelers get through the preseason, get through training camp in Latrobe, get back to Pittsburgh, play the three preseason games.

"Then he is set to show up, sign his $12.1-million franchise tender and play for his team. If this all sounds familiar, it's almost exactly what Eric Berry did with the Kansas City Chiefs last year."

The Steelers and Bell were unable to agree on a long-term deal this offseason, leading to the running back staying away from all offseason activities and training camp.

As Rapoport noted, Bell wasn't expected to extend his holdout into the regular season. It was reported last week that he wouldn't miss any regular-season time and Steelers president Art Rooney II said last Thursday he expected Bell to return to the team before Week 1.