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Report: Le'Veon Bell's suspension reduced to 3 games

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Le'Veon Bell will reportedly be back in the lineup one week sooner than expected.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' star running back received a four-game suspension this offseason for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, but that punishment's being reduced to three games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Bell's initial punishment reportedly stemmed from missing multiple tests, rather than any positive results. Those circumstances appear to have given him some sort of leverage in the appeal process, as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network adds that the adjusted suspension is a result of a settlement between the NFL and NFLPA.

Not only will the agreement allow him to return for a Week 4 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but Garafolo reports that Bell will also remain in the same stage of the league's drug program. As a result, another violation would land him a four-game ban instead of bumping him up to the next level, where he'd be suspended for 10.

Though it's a minor reduction to Bell's current suspension, having him in the lineup for one additional game could prove significant for a Steelers team eyeing the playoffs.

The dynamic young running back will immediately regain his spot as the centerpiece of the Steelers' offense upon his return. If fully recovered from last season's knee injury, it likely won't be long before Bell regains the form that saw him rack up 2,215 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns en route to All-Pro honors in 2014.

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