C.J. Stroud is earning all the NFL Rookie of the Year chatter, rightfully so, following his epic 4,000-yard debut with the Houston Texans.
But there was a brief moment during the 2023 season when the franchise had another contender for the coveted award.
Tank Dell formed a lethal combination with the prized rookie quarterback and appeared destined for the Pro Bowl. That all changed on Dec. 3.
Why Tank Dell Isn’t Playing in the Wild Card Round
Dell lined up close to the line of scrimmage and next to his offensive line inside the 5-yard line before his season got wiped away.
He ended up with a serious leg injury that required the medical cart to come out. The 5’7″ wide receiver got his leg rolled up by his teammate on a goal-line formation.
Dameon Pierce may have gained six points by pummeling through the Broncos’ goal-line defense, but Dell became the casualty of the pileup.
#Texans rookie sensation Tank Dell is carted off the field after getting rolled up on during this Dameon Pierce TD run.
pic.twitter.com/oEtkF9I1U3— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 3, 2023
Dell would not return to the game, nor would he make his way back to the offense for the rest of the year.
By 4:01 p.m. ET that December day, Dell was revealed by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport to have suffered a fractured fibula. It was a scene that Stroud admitted hurt him.
“I can try to be positive about it, but it’s tough, man. I’m hurt,” Stroud told reporters following the win over the Broncos. “I can’t sugarcoat it. I love my brother to death, and I’m praying for him, and I’m here for him no matter what.”
What Type of Season Was Dell Having?
Dell came to the Texans as the 69th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a top local get for Houston — he starred for nearby University of Houston.
For 11 games and eight starts, Dell ignited the excitement for the Texans’ air attack.
The diminutive yet twitchy Dell began to put the league on notice through his seven-catch, 72-yard day in his second NFL contest versus the Indianapolis Colts. He then exploded the following week on Sept. 24 — snatching five catches for 145 yards and averaging 29 yards per reception.
MORE: PFN’s NFL Awards
November became Dell’s month. In all four games during that period, Dell caught between 5-8 passes and delivered two 100-yard outings. He put together his best work against the Arizona Cardinals during that span — grabbing eight catches for 149 yards and scoring once.
That was before his season came crashing down two weeks later. Dell went on to catch 47 passes for 709 yards and scored seven touchdowns in his first season.
Nico Collins Kept Production Going in Dell’s Absence
Fortunately for Stroud and the Texans’ offense, their most towering veteran perimeter option kept the air attack going in Dell’s absence: Nico Collins.
The third-year wideout managed to hit career-highs across the board by season’s end: 80 catches, 1,297 yards and eight touchdowns.
Following Dell going on injured reserve, Collins ended his regular season torching defenses with a combined 16 catches for 275 yards and one score in the last two contests. That includes his epic nine-catch, 195-yard evening to secure the AFC South title against the Indianapolis Colts.
Collins solidified the “next man up” mentality for Houston. One has to wonder, though, just how much more explosive this offense would’ve been had Dell stayed healthy the rest of the way.
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