HEADLINES

Tank Dell

Texans WR Tank Dell Expected To Be Ready For OTAs

February 18th, 2024 at 10:32am CST by Rory Parks

The Texans were one of the NFL’s biggest surprises in 2023, capturing the AFC South title and advancing to the divisional round of the postseason under the leadership of rookie QB C.J. Stroud and rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans. Another of Houston’s first-year talents, wide receiver Tank Dell, was unavailable for the club’s playoff push thanks to the fractured fibula that he suffered in a Week 13 win over the Broncos.

Luckily, it seems that the injury will have no long-term ramifications. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 recently posted a video of Dell moving with apparent ease at a charity softball game, and Wilson notes that Dell is expected to be on the field when OTAs begin in the spring.

Dell, a third-round pick in the 2023 draft, was in the midst of a terrific rookie season, posting 47 catches for 709 yards and seven TDs in just 11 games (eight starts). In the run-up to his injury, Dell firmly established himself as a trusted weapon for Stroud, drawing double-digit targets every game from Weeks 9 through 11 and another eight chances in Week 12. He also saw some return work over the course of the season, taking back 11 punts for 100 yards and two kickoffs for 44 yards.

Houston’s receiving corps boasts a fair amount of young talent, with Dell entering his second pro season and breakout player Nico Collins just now eligible for an extension after finishing his third year in the league. A new deal for Collins, as well as a potential re-up for tight end Dalton Schultz and any number of other extensions or acquisitions will be made much easier by the fact that the Texans have their starting quarterback on a rookie contract for at least the next two seasons.

2022 second-rounder John Metchie finally got his first taste of NFL action in 2023 after his professional debut was delayed first by the ACL tear he suffered in the SEC title game in 2021, and then by Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, and then by a hamstring strain that prevented him from getting much OTA work and sidelined him for Week 1 of the 2023 campaign. He ultimately played in every game from Week 2 forward, catching 16 balls for 158 yards. The hope is that he will be able to enjoy a fully-healthy offseason and hit the ground running when the regular season opens in September.

The elder statesman of the group, Robert Woods, is under contract through 2024 after inking a two-year deal with Houston last March. Another 2023 FA signing, Noah Brown, is out of contract, though the Texans may consider a new deal for him. While Brown battled injury trouble of his own last season, he managed to catch 33 balls for 572 yards (good for a career-high 17.2 yards-per-reception rate) and two TDs in 10 games (seven starts).

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/6/23

December 6th, 2023 at 8:26pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions from around the league:

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

The Cowboys made some adjustments to their injured reserve list today. Waletzko returned to practice today as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder injury. McKeon was placed on IR in order to make room for Hendershot after the latter’s activation. This will give McKeon a chance to deal with an ankle injury that’s bothered him this year and a chance to serve as a potential activation candidate for the playoffs.

Texans’ Tank Dell Undergoes Season-Ending Ankle Surgery

December 4th, 2023 at 3:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 4: When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2) Dell has undergone season-ending ankle surgery. The procedure puts an end to a highly encouraging rookie campaign and leaves Houston shorthanded on offense for the stretch run. Ryans added he expects Dell to be healthy in time for the offseason program.

DECEMBER 3: The Texans’ offense has been productive during today’s game against the Broncos, but the unit has been dealt a major blow in the process. Wideout Tank Dell was carted off the field early in the contest, and he has since been diagnosed with a fractured fibula, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

As a result of the injury, Rapoport notes an IR stint is headed Dell’s way. Being placed on injured reserve requires at least a four-week absence, but a lengthier one could very well be in store. The diagnosis is the same one Ravens tight end Mark Andrews received recently, and he is believed to be out for the remainder of the season.

Missing Dell for any signficant time would be a crucial blow for Houston’s passing game. The third-round rookie entered Sunday’s game with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. Those figures made him a staple of the Texans’ offense, especially in recent games. Dell has drawn double-digit targets four times this season, including a span of three straight contests in November. His unique skillset will be difficult to replace both on offense and special teams.

The 24-year-old has served as the Texans’ kick and punt returner this season. In the latter capacity in particular, he has made an impact. Dell has totaled 100 yards on 11 punt returns, adding to his 44 yards on a pair of kick returns. Veteran cornerback Desmond King handled kick return duties during today’s win, but Houston’s offense will be without a dynamic element if Dell is indeed forced to miss considerable time.

In his absence, the Texans leaned heavily on Nico Collins in the passing game. The third-year wideout was the team’s leading receiver heading into Week 13, and he posted a 9-191-1 statline on Sunday. Collins – who will be eligible for an extension at the end of the season – will be the focal point of Houston’s passing attack moving forward. The team also has John Metchie and Noah Brown as complementary options at the WR spot.

Further testing will no doubt be done on Dell in the near future, but the fact such a signficant injury has already been reported is obviously concerning. It will be worth watching closely how much time he ends up missing, and how the 7-5 Texans move forward as their playoff push continues.