Tag: Tank Dell late hit

Texans QB C.J. Stroud breaks down emotions returning to Arrowhead Stadium

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud understands there’s an emotional return heading back to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.

C.J. Stroud understands that his emotions could run high when the Houston Texans take the field at Arrowhead Stadium.

How could they not for the second-year quarterback? The last time he was here, Houston watched as wide receiver Tank Dell was carted off with a season-ending knee injury.

Not only is Dell Stroud’s best friend, but he’s a constant force in the passing game. And barring a speedy recovery, Dell isn’t expected back until potentially 2026.

But the Texans are more than Dell. They’re more than Stroud. They’re also more than a doormat or “final practice” for Kansas City en route to a sixth consecutive AFC championship appearance.

So Stroud knows that even with Dell in his heart, a victory is the top thing on his mind. That the motivation needed for Houston to strike.

“We’ve got to go do it for him away in the same stadium he got hurt. We’ve got to find a way to not get emotional and channel that,” Stroud said Tuesday. “I think we’ll be able to do that. It will be more inspiring than anything, and we’ll try to get it done for him.”

Looking back, Dell’s injury was the turning point in Week 16’s 27-19 loss. Houston pulled within a point after the 30-yard score with 11:40 left in the third quarter. Medical assistance slowed down the game, but the severity of the play slowed down Houston’s momentum.

Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the PAT to make it 17-16. Two drives later, Chiefs rookie receiver Xavier Worthy punched in an 8-yard touchdown as Kansas City coasted.

The offense struggled the rest of the afternoon, totaling 39 yards on three drives that resulted in a pair of three-and-outs.

Dell won’t make the trip with Houston to Arrowhead, but he did stop by to see the team before Saturday’s win over the Chargers. He was on crutches while wearing a large brace around his knee on the sidelines during pregame, but it seems like he was in high spirits.

That jolted life into the locker room, according to Stroud. Three hours later, Houston was moving on after a double-digit victory.

“Tank means a lot to our team. As you see with the guys, seeing him on the sideline, seeing the T-shirts, it’s real love,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said.  “And everybody loves Tank. And I love Tank. We miss him”

With a win, the Texans would advance to their first conference championship appearance in franchise history. Even as an 8-point underdog, most fans believe beating the Chiefs is an easier path than traveling to take on the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens.

Stroud said the offense has to be on its “A-game” to secure a win. The margin of error is thin against the back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

“This team is really motivated to go out there and play some good ball against a great Kansas City team that’s been in these moments forever,” Strous said. “We know it’s going to take all of us.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN and ABC.

Texans WR Tank Dell to have first of multiple surgeries following knee injury

Tank Dell’s road recovery is underway starting Wednesday morning.

The road to recovery is underway for Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell.

Dell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in late December, is expected to have the first of several surgeries Wednesday to repair torn ligaments in his knee.

The second-year pass-catcher announced the news on Tuesday via his Instagram.

The surgery is only step one to multiple steps in a long process for Dell as he looks to return to the Texans’ offseason. In Week 16’s loss at Arrowhead Stadium, Dell dislocated his knee and suffered a torn ACL, LCL, and MCL. He also and meniscus damage.

Before the injury, Dell was having one of his best games of the season against the Chiefs, totaling six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Sadly, the touchdown grab also marked the end of his 2024 season.

He finished the year with 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns.

It’s possible he could miss the entire 2025 season given the length of recovery from multiple surgeries. It also marks the second season-ending surgery for the former third-round pick since being drafted out of the University of Houston in 2023.

Last week, Dell returned to the facility for the first time since suffering the injury. He was greeted by players and members of the staff with a warm embrace before Saturday’s playoff win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

During the pregame, Dell’s teammates all wore T-shirts with his face on it in support of him. He also had a special moment with C.J. Stroud and fellow injured receiver Stefon Diggs.

“It was good to see him back smiling, around with guys on the sideline, everybody saying what’s up to him,” Stroud said following Saturday’s game. “I think that was good for him and his spirit. Keep him in your prayers and keep uplifting him, because it’s hard time for both of them right now. I hope they were smiling a little bit as we were playing.”

The Texans return to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs this Saturday in the AFC Divisional Round at 3:30 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on ABC and ESPN.

Texans WR Tank Dell’s injury might be worse than envisioned after recent update

Tank Dell is going to miss a majority of the offseason and perhaps all of the 2025 season after a recent medical update.

Tank Dell is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a dislocated knee in the Houston Texans‘ 27-19 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.

That’s only the beginning of his recovery back to the field at NRG Stadium.

According to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson, Dell will likely miss the entirety of the 2025 NFL season after also suffering a torn MCL, ACL, LCL and meniscus damage after hauling in a 30-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud.

The severity of the injury will require multiple surgeries over the offseason and into next spring.

“Unfortunately, it has to be considered career-threatening, but we all hope not career-ending. Surgery is usually staged with this severe an injury,” former 17-year NFL team head doctor David Chao told Wilson. “Whatever you can repair, you repair now, the MCL and LCL. The ACL is typically a reconstruction and you delay that until later when swelling goes down and there’s more mobility.”

Dell, who last December suffered a season-ending leg injury in December, caught a pass at the back of the end zone before colliding with teammate Jared Wayne. Teammates immediately knew he needed medical assistance after he grabbed his leg.

The second-year standout was placed in an air cast and taken to a local hospital for further medical assistance. He remained back in Kansas City on Saturday night before flying home Sunday afternoon to meet with a second medical team in Houston.

Dell, who’s always been questioned for his 165-pound playing weight, was finally getting back to his Pro Bowl rookie form at Arrowhead Stadium. He totaled six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown before leaving.

Chao told KPRC2 that Dell’s injury mirrors that of Cleveland Browns All-Pro running back Nick Chubb, though the damage for Dell is more extensive given the multiple torn ligaments.

“This is a much more complicated surgery process than an isolated ACL and, as such, it’s going to be multiple surgeries and lots of follow-up,” Chao said. “As much as this is a devastating injury, Nick Chubb did return to play his next season. Let’s hope for a similar good outcome for Tank Dell.”

Dell ends his season with 51 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns. He posted a message on social media Sunday night with an emoji of a broken heart.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium Wednesday to take on the Baltimore Ravens as part of a Netflix Christmas double-header.

Texans WR Tank Dell out for the year with dislocated knee, torn ACL

Much like last year, Tank Dell’s season for the Houston Texans was cut short due to injury.

Tank Dell’s season is officially over.

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed Monday that the second-year receiver suffered a dislocated knee and a torn ACL that will require surgery.

Initially, it was reported that Dell suffered a dislocated kneecap. The severity of the injury was more than that after further examination.

On the Texans’ first possession of the second half of Saturday’s 27-19 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback C.J. Stroud threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dell to make it 17-16 game.

But as Dell began to go down, fellow Texans wideout Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s lower leg deep in the end zone. He immediately grabbed his leg and needed medical assistance.

Teammates were visibly distraught as Dell’s leg was placed in an air cast. He was lifted into the back of an ambulance and taken to a local hospital.

Dell, who had taken over the Texans’ No. 2 receiver after two-time AllPro Stefon Diggs suffered a torn ACL in Week 8, was having one of his better games. Before leaving, he caught six passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

“We know how much he meant to this team,” wide receiver Nico Collins said of Dell. “But losing one of your brothers, man, it hurts. Speedy recovery for my dog. Mentally, he’s going through it, but we have to keep stepping, keep climbing for him.”

Saturday marked the second season-ending lower-body injury for Dell since being drafted out of Houston in 2023. His rookie was cut short after he suffered a broken leg in Week 12’s win over the Denver Broncos.

Last April, Dell was shot at a private event in Sanford, Florida, where authorities said a teenage gunman injured 10 people after an altercation. Dell’s wound was minor, and he was released from the hospital shortly after the shooting.

Dell ends his 2024 season with 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns. On Sunday, he posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, for the first time since the incident.

Houston could target a wide receiver on the open market, but it likely won’t come until after its Christmas Day matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans could be getting back John Metchie for Wednesday’s game, but his status remains a mystery entering the final workout.

“We’re always exploring everything we have to do to improve our team,” Ryans said.

Kickoff is scheduled for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Tank Dell injury update: Texans WR returns home following ‘significant’ knee injury

The Texans have an update on wide receiver Tank Dell following their return home to Houston.

The Houston Texans lost more than a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday afternoon.

One of their star players could miss more than just the rest of the 2024 season.

Second-year wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a dislocated kneecap during Saturday’s 29-17 Texans loss at Arrowhead Stadium. Doctors are working to determine the damage but Houston has provided an update since he was carted off in the third quarter.

Here’s the latest on Dell’s status.

(Editor’s note: The below post contains video of Dell’s injury following his touchdown catch. Viewer discretion is advised.)

Tank Dell injury update

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed that Dell was currently flying home to Houston after spending the night in Kansas City at a local hospital. He also said that Dell would remain under evaluation and continue to meet with doctors.

“It is a significant knee injury, and our thoughts and prayers are definitely with Tank at this time.”

When asked for a timetable, Ryans wouldn’t say if Dell is out for the season but took the time to thank the doctors and medical staff in Kansas City for being so accommodating.

“I really thought those guys did a really unbelievable job. [Chiefs Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance] Rick Burkholder and his staff, they did an unbelievable job,” Ryans said. “Very thankful for Kansas City’s entire organization and their medical team.”

Dell, who suffered a similar season-ending injury last season against the Denver Broncos, collided with teammate Jared Wayne after hauling in a 30-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud during the third quarter.

It was clear by his teammate’s reaction that Dell needed immediate medical attention. An air cast was placed around his leg as Dell was quickly ruled out after to being taken to the hospital for further testing carted.

Stroud, who’s openly talked about the bond between him and Dell, was perhaps the most emotional Texans’ player on the field. Cameras flashed to him being visibly upset while being consoled by running back Joe Mixon.

“The emotion that you see from C.J. and from our entire team, it goes back to something we talked about at training camp of building a tight bond, building a deeper relationship as a team and growing tighter as a team,” Ryans said.  “And I think that’s what showed now.

“To see one of your best friends distraught, in pain on the field like that, those emotions will come up when you truly, genuinely care about your brother, you care about your teammate.”

Will Tank Dell miss the remainder of the year?

Barring a second option from the medical staff, Dell is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024 season. He could be out longer if surgery is required.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, that’s still a possibilty. Dell might have returned to Houston, but a medical team will determine what happens next to help with his recovery process.

Tank Dell stats

Dell was en route to perhaps his best game of the regular season before the injury, hauling in 6-of-7 targets for 98 yards and a touchdown.

After a slow start, he’ll potentially finish his second season with 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns.

Texans WR depth chart

Houston’s already without two-time All-Pro Stefon Diggs for the remainder of the year. The former Bills star suffered a torn ACL in Week mid-October on a non-contact play and recently underwent surgery.

Here’s a look at the team’s depth chart of options right now entering a short week of practice:

  • Nico Collins
  • John Metchie III
  • Robert Woods
  • Xavier Hutchinson
  • Jared Wayne

Metchie, who did not play in Sunday’s matchup, returned to practice on Sunday and should be cleared to play on Wednesday.

“He’s progressing, so we’ll see where he ends up on Wednesday,” Ryans said. “It’s funny saying Wednesday.”

When asked if the Texans could target a wide receiver on the market, Ryans didn’t turn down the idea but also noted with a short week they likely wouldn’t factor into the game plan with a short week.

“We’re always exploring everything we have to do to improve our team,” Ryans said.

Texans learn unsettling severity of WR Tank Dell’s injury

Tank Dell’s season is more than likely over for the Houston Texans following the recent news of his knee injury.

Tank Dell’s season might be over, but at least the Houston Texans know the severity of the injury.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Dell suffered a dislocated kneecap during Saturday’s 29-17 Texans loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Doctors are working to determine the damage.

Surgery is reportedly a possibility but has not happened yet.

Following the game, Texas coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters that Dell would remain behind in Kansas City after suffering a “significant” knee injury during the third quarter.

“All our thoughts and prayers are with Tank right now,” Ryans said. “You guys can see what he means to our entire team.”

During the third quarter, Dell hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to bring Houston within a point. When he went down, teammate Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s lower leg just under the kneecap.

The second-year wideout immediately grabbed his leg and barely moved. Several Texans players hovered around Dell as his leg was placed in an air cast. He was then lifted into the back of the ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital.

Dell, who suffered a similar leg injury in Week 12 of last season, was having one of his better games since being drafted out of the University of Houston. He led the team in both catches (6) and receiving yards (98) while hauling in the touchdown.

“It hurts to see him go down like that,” Ryans said. “He was having a fantastic game.”

The hit affected multiple players, including C.J. Stroud, who was visibly upset and was later consoled by running back Joe Mixon as Dell was helped onto the stretcher.

“I’m just tore up, but at the same time, I got to be strong for him. For anything whether it goes left or right, up or down, I have to praise my Lord and Savior,” Stroud said. “It’s not easy, but after [the injury] I try to use it as motivation, it’s not easy to just let it go. That’s my best friend. It’s not easy to move on and just keep playing. I tried to do the best that I could.”

Dell’s injury is the second detrimental blow to Houston’s passing game this season. The Texans lost two-time All-pro Stefon Diggs back in October to a torn ACL.

Now, Dell’s status for the playoffs doesn’t seem to be in doubt, but rather over.

“Speedy recovery for my dog,” receiver Nico Collins said. “Mentally he’s going through it, but we have to keep stepping, keep climbing for him.”

The Texans have three days to prepare before they face the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.

Texans fans react to WR Tank Dell taking uncalled late hit against the Bengals

Tank Dell took a late hit against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10, and Houston Texans fans unloaded with reactions.

Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell took a big hit.

With 7:35 to go in the second quarter of Week 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Texans rookie took what seemed to be a late hit from Bengals safety Dax Hill — at least, referee Carl Cheffers’ crew thought as much by their lack of penalty.

With Dell, who has quickly become a fan favorite, taking that type of hit and no penalty assessed, it riled up Texans fans. Here are some of the best remarks about the no-call on Twitter.