2004: Bell displayed quickness and potential during the 2004 regular season, and the promising running back rushed 75 times for 396 yards (5.3 avg.) with three touchdowns and caught five passes for 80 yards (16.0 avg.) in 14 games (0 starts). Bell joined teammates Reuben Droughns and Quentin Griffin as the third Bronco this season to post at least one 100-yard game (vs. Mia. 12/12), marking only the second time in franchise history that such a feat occurred. Bell led all AFC rookies (4th among NFL rookies) in rushing yards this year. He also showed his ability on special teams, making four tackles on coverage units to rank 11th on the Broncos in that category. In Denver’s regular-season finale vs. Ind. (1/2), he gained 91 yards on 16 carries (5.7 avg.) and caught a career-high two passes for 16 yards (8.0 avg.), including a 15-yard reception. Bell recorded 44 yards on 12 carries (3.7 avg.) at Tenn. (12/25) while also catching a 12-yard pass. Despite being hampered by a severe left shoulder injury at K.C. (12/19) that was suffered a week earlier, Bell rushed nine times for 50 yards (5.6 avg.) and made a 58-yard reception out of a short screen pass. He broke away from Chiefs defenders on the run but had the ball knocked out of his hands on the Chiefs’ 5-yard line for a touchback. Bell posted the first 100-yard game of his career vs. Mia. (12/12) with 123 yards on 17 carries (7.2 avg.) with two touchdowns. He exploded for 81 yards in the first half alone against the Dolphins, including slashing touchdown runs of seven and 11 yards, before he was removed from the game late in the third quarter with a sprained left shoulder. Bell had a career-long 29-yard run around the left side early in the third quarter against the Dolphins that set up a 20-yard field goal. He scored his first career touchdown on a 16-yard run at S.D. (12/5) and totaled a career-best 31 yards on seven carries (4.4 avg.) during a game in which he saw the most extensive action of his rookie season. Bell played on special teams only vs. Oak. (11/28). He made a team-high three special teams tackles at N.O. (11/21) in a game that did not see him record a rushing statistic. He chased down Saints kick returner Michael Lewis on a second-quarter return during which Lewis used his elusiveness to gain 26 yards before Bell corralled him. Bell competed on special teams vs. Hou. (11/7). He was inactive for Denver’s game vs. Atl. (10/31) with a hamstring injury suffered a week earlier. While he did not record a rush at Cin. (10/25) on Monday Night Football, the rookie contributed on special teams against the Bengals. Bell saw the most action he’s seen all year at Oak. (10/17) by rushing six times for 25 yards (4.2 avg.). He was a factor on special teams against the Raiders, making the first tackle of his career on that unit. All of his yards against the Raiders came in relief of starter Reuben Droughns in the fourth quarter, including a 13-yard scamper around the left side on third-and-5. In Denver’s comeback win vs. Car. (10/10), both of Bell’s carries came in the first quarter to give the back a total of five yards for the game. At T.B. (10/3), Bell returned from the rib injury that kept him out of Denver’s previous game to play on special teams only against the Buccaneers. He was inactive vs. S.D. (9/26) with a rib injury that he suffered in practice leading up to the game. In Denver’s game at Jac. (9/19), Bell backed up Quentin Griffin