The Buffalo Bills' well-being along the offensive line will rest largely on the health of left tackle Demetrius Bell and his reconstructed right knee.

To that end, Saturday's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals can be viewed as a step forward. Bell saw his work load more than double from the week before against Indianapolis. After playing just 10 snaps against the Colts, he was on the field for 23 plays against the Bengals.

"It's real good when you can play more and you don't feel no more [pain]," Bell said.

That's a good sign for the Bills, who for the second straight year have taken a huge risk in entrusting the all-important job of protecting the quarterback's blind side to Bell.

In 2009, he was thrust into a starting role without even a game of NFL experience.

That experiment ended horribly. Bell was leading the NFL in penalties before tearing his ACL during a Week 10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

That injury, along with his performance, led many to speculate the Bills would target a replacement in the offseason.

But when the team failed to select a tackle high in the draft or pursue one through either free agency or a trade -- they once again put their trust in the 6-foot-5, 307-pound Bell.

"I'm glad they showed faith in me in not taking a tackle. I know what I can do and I think they know what I can do," Bell said. "It's just a matter of getting on the field and staying healthy and I'm well on my way to doing it."

Asked whether he could envision himself being able to play 60 to 65 snaps during the Sept. 12 season opener against Miami, Bell didn't hesitate.

"Definitely," he said. "I don't see myself not being out there. I see myself as being a starter, so I look forward to being there."

Offensive line coach Joe D'Alessandris wasn't as quick to say whether Bell could handle such a work load so soon.

"I think that's going to be a work in progress," he said. "I don't want to put a number on him or on us. We'll just let him grow each week and see where he goes from there. We'll see how the knee is and how his endurance playing games continues to grow."

Bell underwent surgery in December, meaning he's had eight full months to recover. That's about in line with the recovery time for an ACL injury. The explosive side-to-side movement required of an offensive lineman, however, means the Bills are being careful in bringing him back.

"The structure part [of the knee] has been repaired. Now it's just a matter of trying to get all the muscles strong enough to handle all the quick movement and reaction," D'Alessandris said.

Both Bell and D'Alessandris were complimentary of the work the team's training staff has done in helping him gradually build his work load.

"That was important because of the fatigue factor and his own benefit, too, knowing that his knee is fine. I think Bud [Carpenter, the team's head trainer] and the doctors here have had a nice plan and the medical staff and coaching staff have all worked together and tried to help this young man get back on the field at a steady pace," D'Alessandris said.

If Bell isn't able to suit up for an entire game in the first month of the season, the Bills' limited depth at tackle will show. Primary backup Jamon Meredith is an intriguing prospect, but he's green with just eight career appearances.

Bell knows the Bills are betting he can stay on the field -- and produce.

"The more reps I take, the better off I'll get," he said, "[and] the better I'll help our offensive line and our team."

jskurski@buffnews.comnull