The hits keep coming for the Houston Texans entering Week 4’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
According to KPRC 2 Sports’ Aaron Wilson, wide receiver Tank Dell is unlikely to play in Sunday’s home matchup due to painful bruised ribs suffered at the end of a road loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Dell missed the last two practices with what’s been ruled a chest injury, though he also is dealing with ailments to the hand and wrist. Fellow receiver Nico Collins was limited in practice, but his status could be more of a precautionary element.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday that Dell will be “day to day” and they will “see how he continues to progress” throughout the week following his departure in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Ryans also defended his decision to keep Dell, along with a majority of starters, in the game late despite being down by three scores entering the final drive.
“Injuries can happen at any given time,” Ryans said. “What if the injury happened first play of the game? Should he be out there? We can’t control when injuries happen. Guys are going to play. That’s part of our game, part of the nature of the business.
“Nobody can predict when injuries happen or when a guy should be in or shouldn’t be in.”
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Dell, who served as the Texans’ No. 2 target after being drafted out of the University of Houston last season, was off to a slow start in wins over the Colts and Bears, totaling four catches for 34 yards. In Week 3, he collected a season-high five catches for 62 yards before leaving late.
Last season, he caught 47 balls for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games before he broke his left fibula against the Denver Broncos in early December.
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“We’re confident the guys we have that are going to step up,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said Thursday. “If Tank can’t go, it’s not really going to make anybody blink. It’s just next man up.”
With Dell potentially sidelined, the Texans have plenty of depth at the position, including Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, Steven Sims and John Metchie III.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.