The Houston Texans took home the AFC South title and, hence, a playoff spot, but their road ahead is not going to be easy. After losing their veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs to an ACL injury in Week 8, the Texans also had to say goodbye to receiver Tank Dell for the rest of the season.
With Nico Collins and Dell already on the roster, Houston traded for Diggs to give QB C.J. Stroud a talented receiving corps. But injuries have gotten in the way. Collins hurt his hamstring in Week 5 before Diggs’ injury. By the time Collins returned, the Texans had already dropped from 4-1 to 6-4. When Houston was showing signs of life, Dell’s injury was an ill-time gut punch.
On the brink of the postseason, Dell was carted off the field right after scoring a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs. Let’s take a look at what happened to the sophomore wideout, how long he’ll be out, and more.
What Happened to Tank Dell?
The Texans met the Chiefs in Week 16. The two teams were separated by seven points when Dell soared to catch the pass and, despite multiple hits, came down with the ball, scoring a touchdown. His teammate, Jared Wayne, caught him in the back of the leg, and both crashed to the ground.
Dell managed to hold onto the touchdown, bringing Kansas City’s lead down to a single point. But he stayed down and appeared to be in a great deal of pain before being carted off the field as the stadium was hushed.
Dell’s teammates took a knee and then gathered around him as he was lifted onto the cart. His teammates looked emotional as they stood around him as he was taken from the field. Stroud looked particularly distressed as he was comforted by his teammates and head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Here's the play where Tank Dell was injuredpic.twitter.com/wlILO6gPB9
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 21, 2024
Eventually, Ryan revealed that Dell’s diagnosis was a dislocated kneecap and torn ACL. However, on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reported that Dell also tore his medial collateral and lateral collateral ligaments as well as damaging his meniscus.
“It’s tough to see guys get injured, the work that guys put in, how much they put their bodies on the line to play this game,” Ryans said. “It’s deeper than football. We are talking about real people who have real emotions and real feelings who are going through a tough time right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in that situation.”
When Will Dell Return From Injury?
The Texans will host the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round on Saturday. Despite the home-field advantage, it’s going to be a difficult task with both Diggs and Dell out of action. Diggs’ 2024 is already over, Dell’s injury could cost him next season.
Due to the timing and severity of the injury, Dell playing in the 2025 season “is regarded as an extremely unlikely scenario,” according to Wilson. He added that Dell will need multiple surgeries and has “a long, grueling road of recovery ahead of him.”
Former NFL team doctor David Chao and owner of Sports Injury Central believes the injury is potentially career-threatening.
“This is a much more difficult recovery than just an ACL, it’s a knee dislocation with three of four major ligaments torn and it’s a long road back,” Dr. Chao told KPRC 2. “Unfortunately, it has to be considered career-threatening, but we all hope not career-ending. Surgery is usually staged with this severe an injury. 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.
“A typical recovery timetable, it would be great if he could participate at some point next season, but it’s far from guaranteed he will play at any point next season. It’s similar to what happened with Browns running back Nick Chubb. They’re both knee dislocations, but not all knee dislocations are the same.
“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. 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.”
How Will Dell’s Absence Impact the Texans Postseason?
The touchdown catch took Dell to 98 yards and a score on six receptions and seven targets. He finished the season with 51 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.
It has been a lesser season for Dell than his rookie year when he averaged 9.5 yards per target and 64.5 yards per game. Dell also scored seven touchdowns as a rookie, adding another three in 2024. He has also carried the ball 20 times in his career for 94 yards across both seasons.
Dell was important in the Texans’ 10-7 season. With both wide receivers on injured reserve, he had emerged as a key part of Houston’s offense. His production wavered, but his rapport with Stroud remained meaningful.
As such, the Texans’ chances in the postseason indeed took a significant hit with their receiver’s season-ending injury. They’ll hope for a quick recovery for their rising star and for the Stroud-Collins to dominate in his absence.