So what exactly is the deal with Miami Dolphins rookie Chris Bell?<\/p>\n
Just when it seemed all signs were pointing toward the 2026 third-round pick getting close or at least much closer to his training camp debut, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik pretty much put the kibosh on that whole idea with one simple sentence during his media session after practice Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“I mean he’s still a long way away,” was Slowik’s answer when the question wasn’t about a potential timetable but rather his hopes for Bell once he does start practicing.<\/p>\n
Slowik then added, “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.”<\/p>\n
That comment, mind you, came hours after Bell was spotted running routes before the whole team took to the outside fields at the Baptist Health Training Complex on Tuesday. And this followed what’s looked like a ramping up of the conditioning work Bell has been doing on the sidelined since the start of camp.<\/p>\n
And that seemed to match with head coach Jeff Hafley on the day before the first practice of camp offering some optimism that Bell’s absence wouldn’t be that prolonged.<\/p>\n
“I think he’s in a really good place right now, and we’ll see, but I don’t think it’s like way off in the distance,” Hafley said then. “I can get a smirk on my face and have some optimism there. He’s worked really hard. I think he’s had a great summer and he’s in a good spot. 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.”<\/p>\n
WHY THE DOLPHINS ARE SLOW-ROLLING IT WITH BELL<\/p>\n
Bell began camp on the Active\/Non-Football Injury list, <\/a>different from PUP only because he’s rehabbing an injury he sustained outside of Dolphins-related activities (in his case while playing for Louisville last November) but can come off once he’s cleared to start practicing.<\/p>\n Exactly when that’s going to occur is uncertain, but based on Slowik’s comments Tuesday, it seems maybe more likely than ever that he’ll be moved to the Reserve\/NFI list when the roster cuts to 53 are made, which would sideline him for at least the first four games of the 2026 regular season.<\/p>\n Or it could be that Slowik’s comments were meant to bring down expectations, both in regards to Bell starting practice and to what he could offer as a rookie wide receiver.<\/p>\n
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