PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell waived his right to a preliminary hearing this morning on marijuana possession and driving under the influence charges.

He hopes to enter a first-offender’s program that could result in the charges being dismissed and his record expunged, his attorney said today.

Defense attorney Robert Del Greco Jr. said Bell is also being tested for drugs weekly under NFL rules and will likely face a two-game NFL suspension once the criminal case wraps up, probably early next year.

Bell didn’t comment before or after the hearing, but Del Greco described the player as “a 22-year-old who recognizes his mistake.”

Bell and fellow Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount, were arrested Aug. 20 after an officer in Ross Township, outside Pittsburgh, smelled marijuana coming from a vehicle the men were in with a female friend.

Blount’s preliminary hearing has been moved to Dec. 10 because of a scheduling conflict by his defense attorney, Casey White.

By waiving Wednesday’s hearing, Bell acknowledged police have enough evidence for the charges to go to Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, where he must stand trial if the charges aren’t resolved through the first offender’s program or some other kind of plea.

The Steelers chose not to suspend either player when they were arrested the day before an exhibition game in Philadelphia. Both played in that game and in every game since.