Miami is entering a new era with a revamped roster and a fresh coaching staff, and Malik Willis is slated to quarterback the team. One young player who could play a significant role early on is rookie wide receiver Chris Bell. Bell has been working his way back from a knee injury and made his preseason debut in the finale against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Raiders present a unique early-season challenge for Hafley and his staff. Las Vegas has a new head coach in Klint Kubiak and a new starting quarterback in Kirk Cousins, which leaves Miami with limited 2026 game film to study. Hafley acknowledged that the lack of established tendencies at the start of the season can complicate preparation.
Dolphins Give Chris Bell Clear Green Light Before Raiders Opener
Miami has decided that Bell will not be limited by a pitch count as they approach the opener. This means the coaching staff is not planning a predetermined snap or workload cap for Bell against Las Vegas. While this does not guarantee a fixed number of plays, it allows Bell to take on a normal role if he is ready. Bell remains on track to re-enter football activity after missing time due to an ACL injury suffered last November at Louisville. He played in the team’s preseason finale, catching two passes for 22 yards on five targets.
Bell’s return has been managed carefully throughout training camp, with a focus on avoiding setbacks. Hafley previously noted the importance of Bell continuing to progress and return to football shape. Hafley also confirmed that Bell and fellow rookie Caleb Douglas would start in three-receiver sets, alongside Malik Washington, stating that the three rookies deserve starting roles.
With no pitch-count restriction, Bell has the opportunity to establish himself early in Miami’s offense. The final workload will be determined as the game unfolds, but there is no preset snap limit preventing him from taking a regular share of offensive action.
As Miami heads into a matchup with limited recent film on the Raiders, the team received an encouraging update on one of its young offensive weapons.
Jeff Hafley Admits Raiders Pose Unique Week 1 Preparation Challenge
Preparing for Las Vegas presents a separate challenge because there are few 2026 tendencies from the Raiders’ new coaching staff and quarterback. Hafley explained that the opening weeks of the season can be difficult for teams trying to predict opponents when there is limited game tape.
Miami is studying Seattle to understand Klint Kubiak’s system while also reviewing the Raiders’ personnel and offseason additions. Hafley noted the difficulty of predicting how the new Raiders players will be used within the system and how Kubiak will deploy them in his scheme. The uncertainty has prompted a simple approach for the early part of the season: focus on developing and executing their own identity.
For Miami, Bell now has a full opportunity to contribute while Hafley prepares the roster to handle an opponent that remains difficult to project. The season opener on September 13 will test both the Dolphins’ personnel and their ability to execute their offensive identity.
