Chris Bell sheds non-contact jersey

Bell has been recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season at Louisville, but is now ready to return to the field. The Dolphins used the 94th overall pick in this year’s draft on Bell to bolster their receiver room, but whether or not he’ll be able to get up to speed and contribute as a rookie is to be determined. Bell has the ideal size for an outside receiver and caught 72 passes for 917 yards and six touchdowns in his final season. Given the underwhelming nature of the Dolphins’ receiver room, it’s possible he works his way into a more meaningful role later in the season.

Hafley does not yet know if Bell will be able to play in the preseason, but thinks it would be “a huge benefit” if so. Bell is reportedly making “significant” progress in his rehab from a late-season ACL tear and is now running, cutting, accelerating and decelerating. The Dolphins still don’t consider Bell “day-to-day,” but it seems as though they expect him to play in “real games” this year. Keep an eye on him. The rookie wide receiver could be worth adding off waivers in-season.

Bell tore his ACL late last season while playing for Louisville and is not guaranteed to return before the start of the season, though he can be pulled off this list at any time. The lack of reps he’s getting this offseason will likely make it hard for him to make a real case to be in Miami’s pecking order right when he’s ready. We’re expecting Bell to have a non-zero chance of being an interesting fantasy play later in the season, but in most leagues he can be left on waivers.

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.