HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have announced that wide receiver Tank Dell will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a dislocated knee and a torn ACL sustained during Saturday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Coach DeMeco Ryans shared the details of Dell’s injury during a press conference on Monday, noting that he will undergo surgery, marking a second consecutive year of facing a significant injury. Last season, Dell fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos and had surgery the following day.
“He dislocated the knee, he tore the ACL, and he will require additional repairs,” Ryans stated. “Unfortunately, he’ll be out for the entire season.” Although a date for Dell’s surgery has not been set, Ryans indicated that it would happen soon.
The injury occurred during a spectacular 30-yard touchdown catch in the Texans’ 27-19 defeat on Saturday. In an impressive effort, Dell made the catch on a pass from C.J. Stroud but collided with teammate Jared Wayne while landing. Dell immediately reached for his knee, prompting Wayne to signal for assistance. Medical personnel attended to Dell for several minutes as his teammates anxiously watched. Ultimately, he was transported off the field on a stretcher and later taken to a hospital, where he remained overnight before flying back to Houston.
Stroud, who shares a close bond with Dell, expressed his deep concern and emotional response as he watched his teammate go down. “It was hard for me to contain my emotions,” Stroud remarked on Monday. “We encounter challenges in life, and while it may seem easy to appear stoic, it’s essential to acknowledge that we are all experiencing something.”
Though some criticized Stroud for showing his emotions, he believes such displays are crucial to highlighting the human aspect of sports and the emotional toll it can take on players. “For kids growing up today, they often learn not to reveal their feelings,” he explained. “While there’s some truth to that, we also need to accept our humanity, which is important for people to witness.”
Stroud added that he and Dell engage in Bible study together a few times a week, emphasizing that his faith would be a source of strength for Dell in this challenging period. “This isn’t the finish line for him,” Stroud said. “It’s merely another hurdle he needs to overcome… There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
In a separate incident last off-season, Dell, 25, was an unintended victim at a private gathering in Sanford, Florida, where he suffered a minor gunshot wound. He was briefly hospitalized but returned to Houston shortly afterward.
Drafted in the third round out of the University of Houston last year, Dell has been a valuable asset for the Texans, recording 51 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns, ranking second on the team. His injury presents another significant challenge for the Texans, who are still reeling after losing four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs to a season-ending knee injury in Week 8.
