Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Chris Bell has officially been placed on the Active/Non-Football Injury list.
As per the usual case for players who are recovering from previous injuries, the Miami Dolphins have officially placed rookie wide receiver Chris Bell on the Active/Non-injury Football List.
This list ensures that Bell will remain on the roster, which counts towards the 90-player limit, as the team heads into training camp. He is recovering from a torn ACL suffered during college, and the Dolphins are likely not to rush him along to play in 2025.
With Bell being added to this list, this also opens the team to be able to potentially move him to the Reserve/NFI list once the regular season starts. This would mean that he will not count against the 53-man roster and can be added once he is completely healed.
Currently, the Miami wide receiver corps is full of players who are looking to make their mark, which is a big reason why the Dolphins are unlikely to rush Bell into action.
Led by veterans Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert, the room also features Malik Washington, fellow rookie Caleb Douglas, Kevin Coleman Jr., Tahj Washington, and more.
Any one of the listed players has a chance to emerge as the WR1 for quarterback Malik Willis, and training camp will start to show if the current corps needs an upgrade. There could be a case where the Dolphins may need to seek outside help if chemistry issues become too large.
Willis has depended on tight end Greg Dulcich through training camp, which is the usual case for newer quarterbacks. Despite his being a veteran, Willis has not had many starts or chances to truly be behind center.
Tolbert and Atwell figure to be the main receivers due to their veteran statuses, but Washington has also emerged as a player who has been carving out some decent chemistry with Willis.
With Bell on the Active/NFI list, this also opens the door for Douglas to emerge as a pass catcher who can get some sizable playing time in 2026.
There could also be more additions coming in throughout training camp, assuming general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley continue their search to put together a solid roster.
Jalen Reagor is a player who was added following OTAs and minicamp.
With a stacked room of players who may or may not work out, Bell may not be used at all in 2026. While the Dolphins are likely wanting to see what the rookie can do, there is no need to bring him back if he cannot make strides in his recovery.
