The Facts: Following up on a previous item. ... HC Jim Caldwell said he doesn't have a timetable for Bell's return from the knee and Achilles surgery that kept him out all off-season. Bell led the Lions with 860 yards rushing last year, and the team is counting on him to be a big part of the offense again this fall, despite having drafted Ameer Abdullah in the second round. "From a schematic standpoint, he understands and knows how to run the ball, he knows the system," Caldwell said. "We're just majorly concerned right now with, obviously, getting him healthy, and he's well on his way to that."

Diehards Line: Caldwell declined to say whether Bell, who opened camp on the PUP list, is still bothered by his knee or Achilles. With Bell out, Abdullah and Theo Riddick should see plenty of action at running back this preseason, and both are expected to play a key role in the Lions' offense this year. Riddick caught 34 passes and scored four touchdowns as the Lions' third running back last year. Abdullah, a rookie out of Nebraska, had an impressive spring and is expected to see time as both a running back and return man. Stay tuned. The "majorly concerned" part of Caldwell's comment is obviously something worth noting. We'll continue to watch for more.