Dolphins WR Chris Bell Will Not be Limited in Week 1

Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley spoke to the media ahead of practice on Wednesday and dropped some big updates on the roster as they prepare for their Week 1 showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Despite the depth chart that was released being unofficial, Hafley also seemed to indicate that is how the roster will shake out for Week 1. When asked about the rookie receivers, the Dolphins head coach confirmed that Caleb Douglas, Malik Washington, and Chris Bell will be starting.

Considering Bell has only just returned, Hafley also stated that he will not be limited or be on any sort of pitch count for Week 1.

"We're gonna find out," Hafley said of the rookie receivers being ready. "Winning is the priority. I'm not just going to put a guy out there in Week 1 just to see what we have. We believe those guys deserve to start, and we're gonna start them."

Having Douglas and Washington be two of the starters makes sense given their chemistry with quarterback Malik Willis. Willis favored both, dating back to OTAs and through to training camp.

Bell is the outlier in that he made his debut with the team in the third and final preseason game. The rookie was able to work with Willis at the outset of training camp, but not in the same manner that Douglas and Washington did.

Still, Bell showed a bit about why the Dolphins were willing to take a chance on his ACL recovery when they drafted the Louisville prospect in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Bell ended the third preseason game with two receptions for 22 yards, but he was targeted five times. In his limited action, he utilized his large frame to outstretch his arms to make some catches while bullying his way to a few extra yards.

With Bell having limited action and taking a big hit during the game, there was a belief that he would be brought along a bit slower. That is not the case, as Hafley confirmed the Dolphins rookie will be a full-go for Sunday.

"We're gonna play him, see how he feels. But there is no pitch count on Chris," Hafley said.

The Dolphins' wide receiver room has faced some significant changes since training camp began, as it was veterans Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert who were expected to be the leaders in the room.

That has since changed, with Washington and Douglas leading the way, and Bell now being added as the third starter. Fellow rookie Kevin Coleman Jr. is also a name to watch, as the Miami offense continues to show its dedication to the youth movement in South Florida.

Whether or not the young receivers make noise remains to be seen, but that will soon be revealed as the Dolphins will face the Raiders on Sunday, Sep. 13.