The Vikings released the ex-Marin Catholic High running back Sunday, making him available to be acquired by any NFL team. Bell sustained a high ankle sprain on the third day of Vikings camp and did not practice all last week, which didn't help his chances of making the team.
Mike Bell believes his son will need at least a couple more weeks to get back to 100 percent.
Kahlil Bell pushed through the pain to play in the Vikings' exhibition opener, a 13-3 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Friday. The 22 year-old had three carries for 14 yards.
The injury made what was already an uphill battle insurmountable for Bell, as the Vikings are flush with running backs. Not including two-time All-Pro Adrian Peterson and established veteran Chester Taylor - the clear-cut No. 2 - Bell had to contend with a pair of talented rookies in ex-Boise State star Ian Johnson and Albert Young.
"He's disappointed that he wasn't able to perform to a level he liked," Mike Bell said. "(Because of the injury), he wasn't able to be judged based on his ability. If he has two feet under him, he can play." Bell's agent, Josh Arnold, echoed his client's disappointment but he expects Bell will emerge stronger from the experience. "He's an NFL talent, and I feel like he adapts well to every situation," Arnold said. "He's going to be fine. He's chalking it up as a learning experience, that he took positive things from." Now that Bell has been released, the waiting game begins, though it may be a short one. When he originally went undrafted, his agent reported that there were many suitors, and Arnold hopes to get a deal done in the near future. "There's definitely teams that are interested in him," Arnold said. "We've got to let things play out, but I think a team will pick him up soon, even though they know he is a little dinged up." And, while it may be Arnold's prerogative to get Bell signed, his father knows that finding the right fit for Kahlil is more important than getting a deal done quickly. His son will return to Marin to get healthy, and his dad expects that Kahlil will bounce back swiftly. "Other teams are very interested, but we just need to find the organization that is best suited for him," he said. "The most important part of this whole thing is what Kahlil believes in his heart. He knows he can play now. He's been in the locker room, sized up the guys and knows (the NFL) is just football. It's at a higher level, but it's just football." Kahlil Bell could not be reached for comment.
