2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

35 - JOIQUE BELL
Running Back Wayne State Benton Harbor, Mich.
Year: 5 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 231 Born: 8/4/86
Draft: FA-Buf ‘10 Acquired: FA ‘11
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
MANE FACTS
‣ ¾ Pronunciation: JOIK
‣ ¾ Voted by his teammates for the Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player Award in 2013.
TRANSACTIONS
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions to a three-year contract on March 12, 2014.
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions on April 15, 2013.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Lions off the Saints practice squad on December 27, 2011.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Saints to the practice squad on September 22, 2011.
‣ ¾ Released by the Saints on September 21, 2011.
‣ ¾ Signed by the New Orleans Saints from the Eagles practice squad on January 5, 2011.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Eagles to the practice squad on December 16, 2010. Released by the Colts on December 14, 2010.
‣ ¾ Acquired by the Indianapolis Colts off waivers on November 10, 2010.
‣ ¾ Released by the Eagles on November 10, 2010.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Philadelphia Eagles from the Bills practice squad on September 21, 2010.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Bills to the practice squad on September 5, 2010.
‣ ¾ Released by the Bills on September 4, 2010.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2010.
PRO
Has established himself as a physical presence in the Lions backfield with the ability to break tackles and generate explosive
runs. In 2013, Bell and RB Reggie Bush became the first running back tandem in NFL history to both register 500+ rushing
yards and 500+ receiving yards in the same season.
‣ ¾ Bell and the Lions rushing attack had a combined 17 rushing touchdowns on the season in 2012, the most the team has
registered since they had 15 in 2000. Bell finished with three touchdowns.
‣ ¾ Appeared in eight career games with the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Lions.
2014: Came on strong at the end of the season to finish with a team-high 223 carries for 860 yards and seven touchdowns.
Also caught 34 passes for 322 yards and his first-career receiving touchdown.
‣ ¾ In Week 1 vs. New York Giants, carried the ball a team-high 15 times for 51 yards and a touchdown, along with one
reception for five yards.
‣ ¾ Caught six passes out of the backfield for 61 yards and carried the ball a team-high 10 times for 36 yards in Week 2
at Carolina (9/14).
‣ ¾ Carried the ball a team-high 15 times for 33 yards in Week 3 vs. Green Bay (9/21).
‣ ¾ Gained 32 yards on the ground on eight carries in Week 4 at New York Jets (9/28).
‣ ¾ Inactive in Week 5 vs. Buffalo (10/5).
‣ ¾ Started and rushed the ball a team-high 18 times for 74 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 at Minnesota (10/12). Also
added two receptions for 23 yards.
‣ ¾ Led the team in rushing yards with 48 on 18 carries and added a touchdown in Week 7 vs. New Orleans (10/19). He also
had two catches for 19 yards.
‣ ¾ Carried the ball a team-high 14 times for 39 yards and hauled in two catches for 22 yards in Week 8 at Atlanta (10/26).
‣ ¾ Ran the ball a team-high 10 times for 44 yards and caught a pair of passes for 37 yards in Week 10 vs. Miami (11/9).
‣ ¾ Gained 85 yards on 14 carries and added three catches for 30 yards in Week 11 at Arizona (11/16).
‣ ¾ Carried the ball a team-high 19 times for 48 yards in Week 12 at New England (11/23).
‣ ¾ Found the end zone twice and carried the ball 23 times for 91 yards in Week 13 vs. Chicago (11/27).
‣ ¾ Ran the ball a team-high 18 times for 83 yards and a touchdown in Week 14 vs. Tampa Bay (12/7). Also caught five
passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
‣ ¾ Carried the ball 15 times for 62 yards and also caught four passes for 41 yards in Week 15 vs. Minnesota (12/14).
‣ ¾ Gained 74 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown in Week 16 at Chicago (12/21). Also added a pair of receptions for 13 yards.
‣ ¾ Carried the ball 13 times for 60 yards in Week 17 at Green Bay (12/28).
‣ ¾ Ran the ball a team-high 12 times for 43 yards and caught four passes for 42 yards in the NFC Wild Card game at
Dallas (1/4).
2013: Played in all 16 games (four starts), tallying 1,197 total yards (650 rushing yards and 547 receiving yards) and eight
rushing touchdowns. He totaled 125+ total yards four times in the 2013 season.
‣ ¾ In Week 1 vs. Minnesota (9/8), scored a career-high two touchdowns on the ground as he registered 92 yards from
scrimmage (25 rush, 67 rec). He once again scored the Lions’ first touchdown of the season (two-yard run with :10 left
in second quarter). He also scored the first touchdown of the season in 2012.
‣ ¾ Rushed eight times for 31 yards and caught five passes for 41 yards for a total of 72 yards in Week 2 at Arizona (9/15).
‣ ¾ Made his first-career start in Week 3 at Washington (9/22) and recorded a then-career-high 20 rushing attempts and
132 scrimmage yards (63 rush, 69 rec on four catches) while scoring one rushing touchdown.
‣ ¾ Totaled 46 yards in Week 4 vs. Chicago (9/29) on seven rushing attempts and four receptions.
‣ ¾ Started at running back and rushed five times for 21 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards in Week 5 at Green
Bay (10/6).
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