Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is likely to miss the entire 2025 season as he continues his recovery from last year’s brutal knee injury, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Dell dislocated his knee and tore his ACL, MCL, and LCL in a Week 16 loss to the Chiefs in December. With such a severe injury, Houston’s focus is on Dell’s health and long-term career outlook. The team wants him to get healthy rather than rushing back to play this year.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said (via Wilson) that Dell is “crushing the rehab,” but declined to offer a specific timeline. His comments hinted that the team is not counting on Dell to return this season.
Injuries were always the biggest concern surrounding Dell. His 5-foot-7, 165-pound frame was already undersized by college standards; in the NFL, it’s minuscule. Sitting out this season will set up a major contract year in 2026. Dell will need to prove that he is back at full health and can remain there for an entire season while maintaining his production.
Dell was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, along with teammates Trent Brown and Jimmie Ward.
Brown has been medically cleared to return to the field after missing most of the 2024 season due to a torn patellar tendon. Though he has recovered from surgery, the Texans are still expected to ease him into action in training camp, per Wilson.
Ward, however, is not medically cleared as he recovers from offseason foot surgery. He was sidelined throughout the spring, but has recently “resumed running and is making good progress,” according to Wilson. He is also facing a third-degree felony charge for domestic violence with an August 13 court date. The NFL is monitoring the case to prepare for potential discipline, though the league typically waits until legal matters have concluded before issuing a punishment.
Just terrible. He’s such a good player and so fun to watch. But Noel looks like another receiver who can out produce his size.
Why is the image of Trent Brown????
I thought that Tank might have become a tank w/ that photo!
Made me wonder if he injured his knee by eating it.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Jeez he put on a lot of weight since the injury
Almost as short as Kyler Murray
Hate to see it. He’s one of my favorite younger up and coming receivers right next to Drake London, Garrett Wilson, JSN, Puka Nacua & Jordan Addison
See what getting injured does to your body… he was once 5’7 165
This sucks! Tank Dell and Josh Downs are two of my favorite “small” receivers. They both have that big play potential but they might be too fragile to have long NFL careers.