NFL Draft prospect Chris Bell showcases impressive recovery after November ACL tear

At the beginning of the 2025 college football season, Louisville receiver Chris Bell seemed like a first-round lock for the 2026 NFL Draft. An untimely ACL tear put a fork in those plans late in the year, but Bell is already showing teams why he is still worth early investment.

Just five months after the devastating injury, the Louisville receiver is ahead of his rehab schedule and is already sprinting, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport via Bell’s agent, Erik Burkhardt. Bell was seen sprinting at over 18 miles per hour, which would have translated to a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, per Rapoport.

#Louisville WR Chris Bell, a potential first-rounder before tearing his ACL in November, is running 18+ MPH and ahead of schedule in rehab, per agent @ErikBurkhardt and Dr. Dan Cooper who preformed his surgery.

At 6’2.5, 222 lbs with 4.3 speed, Bell is likely a Friday pick. pic.twitter.com/RSQX4VO8Zt

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 22, 2026

Bell still has a long road ahead, with improving his backward and lateral movement atop the priority list before returning to the field. He remains questionable to be ready by Week 1, which would be 10 months after his injury occurred.

Bell tore his ACL in a loss to SMU at the end of the 2025 regular season. He ended his senior campaign with 72 receptions, 917 receiving yards and six touchdowns, career-highs across the board. Had he not sustained the debilitating injury, Bell would have been in line for his first career 1,000-yard season, especially with Louisville blowing out Kentucky 41-0 in its regular-season finale.

Despite the injury concerns, Bell is trending as a projected second-round pick, per Rapoport. He is the No. 9 receiver prospect of the class on NFL.com, No. 16 on ESPN and No. 44 on Pro Football Focus.

If those projections ring true, Bell will become the highest-drafted Louisville receiver since the Los Angeles Rams took Tutu Atwell in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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