After three off-season surgeries, and three weeks of unanticipated in-season rest, Joique Bell is ready to help the Detroit Lions' depleted backfield again.
Bell, who was honored tonight as the Lions' Ed Block Courage Award recipient, said he's close to returning from the ankle and Achilles pain that caused him to miss the last three games and limited him to just 22 yards rushing on his first 20 carries this year.
"I played through a lot (last year), and some things that I had to get corrected in the off-season," Bell said. "We did that and I tried to come back as soon as possible, but obviously I wasn't ready yet and so the coaches and the training staff were very smart in sitting me down.