Chris Bell ascends to first team on depth chart

“We believe those guys deserve to start, and we’re gonna start them,” was Hafley’s matter-of-fact Wednesday statement. His words come after the ‘Fins officially listed the third-round rookies as starters on Tuesday. His “pitch count” comments pertain to Bell’s summer stint on the NFI list as he completed his recovery from torn ACL suffered last season at Louisville. Starting a pair of Day 2 receivers in Week 1 is far from ideal for anybody, but no less so than trotting out Jalen Tolbert. The Dolphins are fully committed to their rebuild, and rookies like Bell, Douglas and Kevin Coleman are the biggest potential beneficiaries. Bell and Douglas belong on 12-team league watch lists, with Coleman worth a dynasty stash.

Bell played in the preseason for the first time this evening. He got involved early and looked good. He snagged a four-yard catch on the first play from scrimmage and hauled in an 18-yarder on the next drive by finding the soft spot in the Falcons’ zone coverage on a post route. Bell got shaken up by a hard hit while unsuccessfully attempting to bring in another pass, but he remained on the field and came back out for the next drive as well. Bell’s return from an ACL tear seems to be going well, and the Dolphins’ wide receiver depth chart has open roles. Unsurprisingly, Bell said after the game that he will be ready to go for Week 1. He should be targeted as a last-round pick in 12-team fantasy drafts.

It’s yet another encouraging sign for Bell, who was activated off the PUP list last Monday after recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during his 2025 season at Louisville. The rookie third-rounder has been getting up to speed since making his return and could have a chance to contribute to the Dolphins’ offense later this season.

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.