Le'Veon Bell: Pittsburgh Steelers RB undergoes groin surgery

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell underwent surgery Monday to repair the groin injury that forced him out of the AFC Championship Game.

Bell posted a photo Monday morning on his Snapchat account from a hospital bed before the surgery.

NFL Network reported the surgery repairs a "core muscle" injury and requires about a six-week timetable.

Bell rushed just six times for 20 yards during the Steelers' 36-17 loss in the AFC title game to the New England Patriots. After the game, Bell admitted to reporters that he managed the groin injury for "a couple weeks" and aggravated it against the Patriots.

Bell made the rounds with the media during Super Bowl week, telling reporters then he was still in the process of determining whether he would need surgery for the groin injury.

The Steelers used the franchise tag on the 25-year-old Bell and want to sign him to a long-term deal. The two sides have until July 15 to work out a multi-year deal or Bell will play for the $12.2 million tag in 2017.

The Steelers rode Bell to the playoffs in 2016. He rushed for 1,268 yards (4.9-yard average) and seven touchdowns in 12 games, and caught 75 passes for another 616 yards and two TDs during the regular season, becoming the first player in NFL history to average 100 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards per game.

Bell set franchise single-game rushing records in the first two playoff games. He racked up 167 yards in a victory over Miami in the AFC wild-card round and bettered that with 170 in the victory over Kansas City in the divisional round.