Le\'Veon Bell didn\'t play in the New York Jets\' first preseason game and appears unlikely for Thursday\'s tilt against the Atlanta Falcons.
Adam Gase has said that experiencing the \"flow of the game\" might be beneficial for Bell ahead of the regular season.
Bell said he is \"definitely ready\" to play, but knows the Jets is \"going to protect me from myself\" and believes it won\'t take much for him to be back up to speed after his extended hiatus from game action.
\"I don\'t really necessarily need [preseason reps],\" Bell said. \"If I get them, they\'ll help. But I don\'t think I\'ll need them. I think once we get out there ... football is football. I\'ve been playing for so long. It naturally will come back to me. I\'ll get adjusted to the game ... in a couple plays and I’m ready to go.\"