\u201cJust to step back out there on the field for my first NFL game being in Miami\u2019s stadium, it felt pretty good,\u201d Bell said. \u201cSo I\u2019m just blessed, had the opportunity to be out there with some of my with my brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n
One thing, however, didn\u2019t change in the nine months since his coming out party against the Hurricanes: the targets. In both instances, Bell was the focal point of the offense. The former Louisville standout was heavily peppered Friday night, accumulating five targets in Miami\u2019s first three drives.<\/p>\n
This was no coincidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was intentional to get him involved early,\u201d coach Jeff Hafley said. \u201cThe read and the coverage probably dictated that more, but we definitely wanted to try to get him involved early because he was going to be on a pitch count.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the excitement surrounding Bell\u2019s return to game action, Friday night wasn\u2019t all sunshine and rainbows.<\/p>\n
Take the shot that he took in first quarter, for example. A third-down pass courtesy of quarterback Cam Miller found Bell just as he got out of the break of his slant route. The issue: two Falcons defensive backs blanketed the rookie, leading to a devastating hit that caused him to drop the pass.<\/p>\n
Bell stayed down momentarily. A teammate soon walked over, helped him to his feet and the duo jogged off the field. When asked about the hit, Bell assuaged any questions that it took a toll on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI trust my knee a lot,\u201d Bell said. \u201cAfter taking that hit, it didn\u2019t really hurt. I was just laying there because I was a little tired. I\u2019m not going to lie, and I haven\u2019t played football in eight months. I\u2019m still trying to get in that football shape. But I needed it. It was a welcome to the NFL. I needed it to break the ice. I needed to get tackled.\u201d<\/p>\n
That Bell returned eight months after the initial area was a surprise, to say the least. The senior receiver had racked up 72 catches for 917 yards receiving and six touchdowns in the 11 games before the injury<\/a>. With his 82.4 yards per game good enough for second in the ACC, Bell had even been projected to be a first-round pick before the injury.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people didn\u2019t give him a chance to get back until a lot later, which is why he probably was drafted where he is,\u201d Hafley said, before praising Dolphins strength coach Todd Hunt and trainer Kyle Johnston. \u201cHe\u2019s attacked it and those guys did a great job with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Bell, however, couldn\u2019t be more enthusiastic for the opportunity. Everything, he stressed, happens for a reason. In other words, Miami was his destiny.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I was projected to go late first round, early second round,\u201d Bell said. \u201cI\u2019m going to always put God, and it was God\u2019s plan. His plan was to not have me at the top too early, and I think what I know, because it\u2019s always been like that in my life \u2013 start from the bottom because you know where I\u2019m from, I always got it out the mud. I\u2019m just happy to be a Dolphin, and I\u2019m ready to take on any challenges that come in front of me and I know I\u2019m going to end up on top.\u201d<\/p>\n
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