Jets activate Bell from IR ahead of Cardinals game

The New York Jets activated Le'Veon Bell from injured reserve Saturday, paving the way for the running back to return for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals, the team announced.

The return of Bell - who was sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1 - comes at a fortunate time for the winless Jets. Quarterback Sam Darnold will miss Week 5 due to a shoulder sprain, with Joe Flacco set to start instead.

Bell struggled in the season opener before the injury, rushing for just 14 yards on six carries in a loss to the Buffalo Bills.

But Jets head coach Adam Gase said this week he's confident Bell can bounce back after his IR stint.

"I think he can be pretty effective," Gase said. "He did a good job of, one, getting healthy and then staying in good shape. (He) did a good job making sure that he maintained where his weight was ... I think he feels even better now than he did when we kind of hit that first game."

New York relied heavily on 37-year-old Frank Gore in Bell's absence, but the veteran has averaged only 3.1 yards per rush.

The Jets' entire offense has struggled, ranking among the league's worst in scoring (16.2 points per game, 31st), passing yards (179.5 yards per game, 32nd), and rushing yards (98.5 yards per game, 26th).

Bell's first season in New York last season was a major disappointment. The former All-Pro finished with 789 yards and three touchdowns on the ground but promised this offseason to return to form in 2020.