Tank Dell did not participate in Wednesday’s practice for the Houston Texans after leaving early Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Houston Texans’ offense is already short-handed with Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon sidelined, but it could be getting worse entering Friday’s final walkthrough.
Second-year receiver Tank Dell was missing from practice on Wednesday after leaving in Sunday’s 34-7 loss against the Minnesota Vikings. Not only is he dealing with a rib injury, but he also suffered aliments to the wrist and hand.
#Texans not practicing at start or today's session Joe Mixon (ankle), Tank Dell (ribs, hand-wrist) Dameon Pierce (strained hamstring) who's close to returning per sources @KPRC2
His status for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars is now in question.
While Dell finished with a season-high five catches for 62 yards, he’s yet to hit his full stride opposite Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said the former Houston speedster would be “day-to-day” following Wednesday’s practice.
“We’ll see how Tank goes throughout the week, Ryans said. “He should be fine.”
Dell’s vertical speed offers a second threat for the Texans’ passing game beyond the sticks. Last season as the team’s No. 2 target, he finished with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns before suffering a season-ending leg injury in early December.
Dell’s been at his best when playing against Jacksonville. Last season in two games, he caught 10 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 19.5 yards per reception.
Cam Akers and Dameon Pierce are expected to start in place of Mixon if he can’t go due to his ankle. Should Dell be out, Houston would likely rotate a trio of Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and former second-round pick John Metchie III.
Those goals have grown in the recent weeks since his life saw a shake-up.
Dell, the Texans’ breakout receiver of the 2023 season, is thankful to be able to still play football after being shot in the leg during a bar altercation in his home state of Florida following the draft. He considers himself blessed that someone was watching over him that night in Sanford.
“God blessed me to get out of that situation healthy,” Dell said speaking to the local media for the first time since the shooting. “I was only down for like a week, but I was just working out. But after that, I got right back to work, and I’m feeling good.”
Dell, 24, was one of 10 people who suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the shooting. Earlier this week, police released video evidence of Dell getting caught in the middle of the altercation as shots were fired.
A 16-year-old suspect was charged with attempted homicide, firing a weapon in a public place, using a firearm during a felony and illegal possession of a firearm by a minor. All 10 victims survived, suffering only minor wounds.
The moment scared Dell, wondering what would happen to his career, though the moment also affected others waiting to hear an update.
“I don’t want to put myself in that type of position. And especially like my family, like I got a little brother, my mom,” Dell said. “I know how they were feeling at that time. And it’s just a blessing that I’m safe. But it’s a traumatic experience.”
Mentally, Dell feels back on pace. He still goes to church on Tuesdays and prays every morning and every night. He talks to his grandma more often through daily text messages.
And sights are set on a promising future with Houston now viewed as a playoff threat. Dell has big goals this upcoming season, including finding the end zone at least 10 times over 17 games.
“I’m looking forward to stepping in that light and achieving them,” Dell said.
Dell wants to expand his role in the offense, one that features dominant No. 1 target Nico Collins and the newly acquired Stefon Diggs. C.J. Stroud, one of Dell’s best friends, will have his choice of target to fire at on Sundays as Houston looks to clinch its first conference title in franchise history.
While Collins and Diggs may have experience, there’s little reason to imagine Dell taking a step down on offense. As the No. 2 target last season, he proved to be an essential asset, hauling in 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns.
He was on pace for over 1,200 receiving yards before a broken fibula suffered against Denver sidelined him for the rest of the regular season. Since then, Dell’s received countless support from teammates and members of the organization.
“Everybody’s been showing a lot of love and just letting me know, reassuring me they’re right by my side the whole time every step of the way, so that’s been good,” Dell said.
Since his return, Dell has been working his way up to full speed, though he looks near-perfect during drills. He’s been a full participant since last week’s voluntary OTAs began, winning multiple routes in coverage both during team drills and 7-on-7 routes.
During Tuesday’s open session for media members, Dell broke free for a gain of 25 yards during team drills while matched in man coverage. While the catch was impressive, the throw from Stroud couldn’t have been placed better.
Consider that a tribute to the duo’s success and friendship off the field.
“Just got a lot of love for that guy.,” Stroud said. “I’m very excited for him. He’s been snapping at practice and doing really well, and to knock off the rust that quick shows how much work he’s put in.”
Stroud, who relied on Dell in marquee games during his rookie season, learned that Dell was shot while attending a basketball game in Philadelphia. In a recent podcast, he called the situation an “eye-opener.”
The duo grew close during the rookie season because of their faith. Stroud thanked God when he found out Dell would be fine following the incident.
“We have those conversations about our faith. This football stuff, it seems like it’s everything, but it’s not,” Stroud said. “We’re people, and we go through a lot off the field people don’t know (about). As his brother, I have to be there for him just like he’s there for me when I go through what I go through. So I’m just proud of him. The word proud isn’t probably even enough to state the feelings that I have.”
"…We've got something special brewing here…"-WR Tank Dell on the 2024 Texans. pic.twitter.com/jZJiRWy03w
There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for Dell in his return. While the path back to play came with blockage, he’s emerged from the other side with a clearer mind.
His goals are lofty, but achievable. It might take time, but the second-year receiver is ready to take the next step.
He’s also thankful that there’s another step to take in his career.
“I give all the glory to God for sure,” said Dell. “It’s been a blessing, nothing short of a blessing.”
Tank Dell is finally telling his side of the story of the incident that occurred last in Florida.
Tank Dell is finally telling his side of the story.
Dell, who just over a month ago was shot as a bystander during an altercation at a bar while visiting family in Florida, spoke on the night during a recent interview alongside Houston Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud on an episode of Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast with podcast hosts Gillie Da King and Wallo.
During the interview, Dell mentioned that it was just a ‘wrong place at the wrong time moment‘ and that he’s thankful it wasn’t a more serious injury.
“I went back to see my mom, Iwasn’t even planning to go back and go to the little pool party or whatever, but my boy found out I was home and hit me up. He was like pull up to the party,” Dell said. “They told me there was going to be security, people getting checked at the door, stuff like that, so I said cool, it’s a good vibe and there were a lot of people that I knew in there, so it was cool. Then, that just popped off out of nowhere. It just went south out of nowhere.”
Tank dell said he searches his name and uses the hate for motivation. Specifically mentioned the wr3 comments 👀🌝. It’s gonna be some competition in that Texans WR Room this year! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/b94PJhLPHx
During the middle of an altercation at a private bar in Sanford, Florida, before someone opened fire into the crowd. All 10 individuals shot were given immediate medical treatment and are expected to make a full recovery.
Surveillance footage from the club showed Dell was trying to get away from the altercation but inadvertently ran in between the two people who were arguing.
“I thought I removed myself from the situation from the little altercation of where they were fighting but I put myself in the middle of two people, and it just went crazy,” Dell said.
Stroud, who also appeared on the podcast, said he heard Dell was shot during Game 4 of the 76ers-Knicks series while in Philadelphia. While sitting courtside, a member of the Texans’ staff sent him a message, letting him know of the incident.
“He sent like a whole long paragraph, all I remember is Tank got shot and I dropped my phone, and I started tearing up, man,” Stroud said. “When you hear that, you’re thinking the worst. First thing, I did, I just said a prayer.”
Stroud said the moment served as a moment for players to remember what type of trouble they could put themselves in when found at the wrong place.
“Sometimes when I go home, that’s where I’m comfortable at, going to the pool parties, going to the bowling alleys or the skating rinks or the house parties,” Stroud said. “This is the people I grew up with. I haven’t changed just because I got a little bit of money, but for that moment to happen that quick, it was like an eye-opening experience, not only for Tank but really for the rest of the world, athletes all around.”
Dell broke out as a rookie last season, helping Houston secure its first postseason berth since 2019. A third-round pick out of Houston, Dell caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns before suffering a season-ending leg injury in early December.
After being on pace for over 1,000 yards last season, Dell has goals he hopes to break, including hitting the 1K marker. Anything else? Try double-digit touchdowns.
McNair told reporters before the start of the Texans’ annual golf charity golf tournament that Dell would make a “full recovery” after suffering a flesh wound in his leg.
Dell, Houston’s third-round pick out of the University of Houston in 2023, was one of 10 victims caught in the middle of the crossfire during the shooting in Sanford, Fla.
“It’s frightening,” McNair said. “You just try not to get into those situations, and sometimes it happens. We’re just grateful that I think no one was seriously hurt.
“I saw [Dell] in the office the other and he looked good, in good spirits.”
#Texans Cal McNair and Hannah McNair on Tank Dell recovery after suffering gunshot wound as innocent bystander in Florida mass shooting called situation 'frightening' they're relieved he's going to be fine @KPRC2pic.twitter.com/Fp4jXQAotA
Dell, one of Houston’s breakout stars en route to an AFC South division title, was visiting family in Daytona Beach earlier in the week before the shooting. While attending a private event, a fight broke out, eventually leading a gunman to begin firing shots into the crowd, striking Dell among others.
Since the shooting, two people have been arrested, including a 16-year-old suspect. None of the injuries sustained in the shooting were life-threatening. Dell received immediate medical attention and was released from the hospital Sunday morning.
Dell broke his silence on the event last week, posting a photo to his Instagram in the Texans’ new Battle Red uniforms with the caption: ‘God I thank you’ along with a praying hands emoji.
“He’ll have to rehab and get back to where he was,” McNair said.
As the Texans’ No. 2 target, Dell hauled in 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games. He was on pace to break Andre Johnson’s team rookie receiving record entering December, but suffered a season-ending broken fibula against the Broncos that required surgery.
Since then, Dell’s been rehabbing in Houston and seemed to be back on track to practice before the shooting. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said that he’s spoken to Dell several times since the shooting and that they had a “good conversation.”
When pressed further on Dell’s status for the start of OTAs next month, Ryans declined to comment.
“I’ve answered all that about Tank — he’ll be all right,” Ryans said.
When asked further about the incident, both Ryans and the McNairs elected to keep the details private.
“That’s kind of between us and Tank,” Texans foundation vice president Hannah McNair said. “That’s a hard situation to be in. I think that’s something we’ll talk about privately. In any situation in life, you’re going to learn something from it.”
