Dolphins place Chris Bell on active/NFI

Bell (6’2/222) spent all four years of his college experience at Louisville, slowly improving as a player while also expanding his role. He took over as an every-week starter in 2024 and went for 737 yards with four scores. Bell then put it all together in his senior season with a 72-917-6 receiving line. He caught fire a month into the season, ripping off games of 135, 170, and 136 yards when Louisville began its conference schedule. The third of those games featured two touchdowns against Miami’s star-studded defense. Bell unfortunately faded down the stretch before suffering a torn ACL just before the end of the season. He’s a physical, outside receiver who couldn’t be matched by press coverage in college. The biggest concern for Bell is the torn ACL. He doesn’t pop as an athlete on tape and now he is coming off a catastrophic knee injury. Bell is teeming with upside, but it could take several years for him to get enough reps to reach that ceiling, even if he is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery.

Two days ago, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported that Bell is ahead of schedule. Bell tore his ACL on November 22nd, 2025. On December 10th, 2025, ESPN reported that he was set to undergo ACL reconstruction later that week. Returning by late July would be roughly seven months post-op. Players often return from ACL reconstruction 9-12 months post-op. We don’t know what to make of the return projection, but we are happy to hear his rehab program is going well. Schultz adds that Bell is a player to watch on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

The news comes directly from Bell’s agent a day before the draft, so take it with a grain of salt. Bell suffered a torn ACL late in the 2025 season and is still working his way back from the injury and accompanying surgery. Bell caught 72 passes for 917 yards and six scores in 11 games last year. Had he not suffered the season-ending injury, Bell would have been in the conversation for round one draft capital. Instead, it looks like he’ll have a good shot at going in the second or third round.