Sources: Bell, Blount to play

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ESPN.com news services
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August 21, 2014, 1:41 PM ET
2 min read

— -- Pittsburgh Steelers running backs  Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount have been charged with possession of marijuana following a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon, Ross Township Police detective Brian Kohlhepp said Thursday.

Both will play in Thursday night's preseason game against the  Philadelphia Eagles, sources told ESPN's Ed Werder.

Bell, who was driving the car, has also been charged with driving under the influence of marijuana, Kohlhepp said. Both the possession of marijuana and the DUI charges are misdemeanors, Kohlhepp said.

Bell and Blount will receive summonses in the mail that will include the date on which they must appear in court. Those dates have not yet been determined, Kohlhepp said.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin met with the players Thursday morning as he decided how to proceed, and a source says that it will be "business as usual'' for Bell and Blount because the Steelers have a lot to work on offensively.

The NFL is expected to review the incident.

Kohlhepp said traffic officer Sean Stafiej pulled over a Camaro operated by Bell around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday after Stafiej, who was on a motorcycle, noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Stafiej found a 20-gram bag of marijuana inside the car. Bell, Blount and a female passenger all claimed ownership of the marijuana, according to police.

Bell, 22, was taken to a hospital to have blood drawn and was later charged with driving under the influence of marijuana.

The incident happened less than two hours before the Steelers flew to Philadelphia for Thursday night's game.

Bell didn't fly with the Steelers to Philadelphia, according to multiple reports, but later made his own way to the city to rejoin the team, a league source told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio. Blount was with the team, according to ESPN's Ed Werder and multiple reports.

Rookie Dri Archer is No. 3 on the Steelers' depth chart at running back, but he has also split his time at wide receiver.

None of the other running backs on the Steelers' roster has played a game in the NFL.

ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder, ESPN.com's Scott Brown and The Associated Press contributed to this report.