Le'Veon Bell's suspension reduced from 3 games to 2

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have Le'Veon Bell back on the field a little earlier than anticipated after the NFL reduced the star running back's suspension from three games to two, the league announced.

Bell never formally appealed the three-game ban he received for an August 2014 arrest on DUI and marijuana possession charges. (The charges have since been resolved.)

Instead, Bell's team worked with the NFL to negotiate a reduction in his penalty. Bell is believed to have argued that suspending him for two games for the DUI and one game for marijuana possession was, essentially, suspending him twice for the same infraction.

It appears the NFL agreed with this line of thinking.

It's a best-case scenario for the Steelers, who reportedly accepted that a two-game ban was the minimum that would be levied.

Bell, who tore up the NFL last season to the tune of 1,361 yards rushing (second-best in the league), 854 yards receiving (most by a running back), and 11 touchdowns, will sit out games at the New England Patriots and versus the San Francisco 49ers before making his 2015 debut on Sept. 27 at the St. Louis Rams.