Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan Gives Update on Rookie WR Chris Bell
Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell has been running routes and showing acceleration, deceleration, and cutting, as social media videos have shown from the last week of practices. While the third-round pick is on the non-football injury list while rehabbing an ACL injury from last November, his progress has been impressive.
On Monday morning, Dolphins’ general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan appeared on the Joe Rose Show on WQAM. Sullivan said, “Chris Bell is ahead of schedule. I don’t want to put a timetable on it.” He also said, “I’d rather be a week too late than a week too early.”
As training camp opened, speculation was running wild as to when Bell will be activated with coaches and coordinators providing varying estimations. On August 4th, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik told media members, “Yeah, I mean he’s still a long way away. We haven’t even had a chance as coaches to work with him aside from in the meeting room. So we’ll see when he’s able to go.”
A few days later, following the impressive workout footage, head coach Jeff Hafley gave his take. He said, “Yeah, I’m sure you guys saw him running yesterday, right? Chris is progressing nicely. You saw him run yesterday. I mean, he’s accelerating. He’s decelerating. He’s able to cut. I think that’s a credit to Chris how hard he’s worked. I think it’s a credit to Kyle [Johnston], our training staff. I think it’s a credit to Todd [Hunt], our strength staff.”
Added Hafley, “And you know, I would say this; we want to be certain that he is ready so he does not have setbacks early in his career. Is it going to be day to day? No. Do I think it’s going to be long term? No. Does that answer the question exactly how you want it? No.
Hafley then said in a confident way, “He looks good though, doesn’t he? You can say yes.”
A first-round talent, Bell clearly dropped in the draft due to the ACL injury. Yet his ability and frame have many comparing him to A.J. Brown. Bell was outstanding at Louisville and dominated the last game he played in South Florida against the Miami Hurricanes. Bell caught nine passes for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns in October in a Cardinals’ win over Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.
Bell had his best collegiate season in 2025 with a total of 72 receptions, 917 yards and six touchdowns in his 11 games. Over his four-year career at Louisville, he improved across the board in each of his seasons. He finished with 151 catches, 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns with a career yards per reception of 14.3.
While Sullivan still exhibited some caution, Bell is tracking like he could even be taken off the NFI list and participate in a preseason game. That would mean he could avoid starting the season on the PUP list and be on the initial 53-man roster.
As this process unfolds, it would remain to be seen if he could be in uniform Week 1 on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders, or even Week 2 when Miami stays out west for a game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Dolphins open their home schedule Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and should Miami elect to have Bell inactive during the road trip, this could be an opportune time for his official debut.
Regardless of a still uncertain exact timetable, what is evident, is that Bell has been working remarkably hard, and could be a factor on the field significantly quicker than initially expected. This would make his selection back in April, one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft, which could make Sullivan look like a certifiable genius.
Bell’s return could make for a potent combo of rookie wide receivers, as fellow third-rounder Caleb Douglas has been extremely impressive during camp so far. It looks like the duo could be Miami’s starters in the not-so-distant future.
