Steelers' Le'Veon Bell: Has surgery Monday

Bell (groin) underwent surgery Monday to repair a core muscle injury, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.

Bell was previously anticipated to avoid going under the knife, but nearly two months after a groin injury kept him sidelined for the majority of Pittsburgh's AFC championship game loss, surgery was ultimately deemed the best course of action to help him long term. While Bell, who has missed 20 of 70 possible games since entering the league, will now be forced to come back from another injury, the procedure's six-week timetable doesn't figure to keep him out of action very long. After receiving the Steelers' franchise tag two weeks ago, July 15 also represents a target date for Bell, as he has until then to reach a multi-year extension with the team.