The Miami Dolphins drafted wide receiver Chris Bell in the third-round of the 2026 NFL Draft despite the fact that the young player tore his ACL while playing for Louisville in November of last year. Since his selection, fans have wondered if the player once talked about as a possible first-round pick prior to his injury would be ready for the start of the regular season.
On Tuesday, the first day Miami’s veterans reported to training camp, new head coach Jeff Hafley spoke with the South Florida media and was asked for an injury update regarding Bell. Here’s what the Dolphins’ head-man-in-charge had to say about his sidelined rookie.
“I think he’s in a really good place right now… I don’t think [Bell’s return] is way off in the distance… I am excited where he’s at. I can get a smirk on my face and have some optimism there. He’s worked really hard. Our training staff… has done a great job with him. I think he’s had a great summer and he’s in a good spot.”
Will Bell be practicing during Dolphins’ training camp?
“You’re going to be seeing him running around out there. [Bell] did the conditioning test today with the team, so we’ll see where it goes. As much as there’s optimism and I get excited about where he’s at, I think we also have to be careful, so we’ll continue to work through it.”
We will continue to keep you updated on all things Miami Dolphins as the team begins training camp today.