Texans' Tank Dell: Highlight play in return to action
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Dell caught his only target for 43 yards and added a two-yard rush during Sunday's 27-21 overtime loss to the Giants.
Dell made his return to action after missing nearly two full years while recovering from a dislocated kneecap and series of torn ligaments in his left knee. The wide receiver was only on the field for 11 offensive plays, but he made the most of his one target. Dell reeled in a deep ball from C.J. Stroud in the second quarter, churning out a 43-yard gain. With Nico Collins, Marvin Harrison, Xavier Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel (toe) and Kayshon Boutte also in the mix at wide receiver, Dell may have a hard time getting many looks each week.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Cleared to make 2026 debut
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Dell (knee) is active for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Dell is ready to take the field for the first time since Dec. 21, 2024, when he suffered a dislocated kneecap and multiple ligament tears in his left knee. The 2023 third-rounder established a role for himself in the offense before the injury, but he'll likely be eased into the workload in his first game in nearly two years. Dell figures to operate in a rotational role behind Nico Collins, Marvin Harrison and Jaylin Noel.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Activated from injured reserve
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Dell (knee) was activated from injured reserve Saturday, but he remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants.
Dell thus has a chance to log his first game action since he suffered a serious left knee injury Dec. 21, 2024 that included a dislocated kneecap and multiple ligament tears. The Texans' receiving corps is in a much different state this time around, with Marvin Harrison, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and Kayshon Boutte all vying for reps behind No. 1 option Nico Collins. Where Dell may stand behind Collins remains to be seen, assuming the former is active for Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Texans' Tank Dell: On track for season debut Week 7
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Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Dell (knee) is on track to return from injured reserve to make his season debut in Week 7 versus the Giants, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell will be making his first appearance since Dec. 21, 2024, when he sustained a severe left knee injury that included a dislocated kneecap and damage to multiple ligaments. Through his first two seasons in the NFL, Dell had emerged as a key complementary option behind No. 1 wideout Nico Collins, but the Texans are likely tempering expectations for the 26-year-old coming off a nearly two-year layoff. Dell, who was cleared to resume practicing Oct. 7 and was a full participant throughout Week 6 prep, is expected to be in line for a light snap count in his 2026 debut.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Won't debut in Week 6
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The Texans ruled out Dell (knee) for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London.
Currently in the midst of his second week of practicing with the Texans after having his 21-day evaluation window opened Oct. 7, Dell has taken a notable step forward in his recovery from a severe left knee injury by turning in back-to-back full sessions Wednesday and Thursday. Though the Texans won't bring him back from injured reserve for the London game, Dell stands a strong chance of being activated ahead of the team's Oct. 25 matchup with the Giants and seeing his first game action since December 2024 if he can continue to practice without restrictions next week.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Upgrades to full practice
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Dell (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Last Wednesday, the Texans opened Dell's 21-day evaluation window, with the receiver proceeding to turn in two limited practices while sitting out another. He's now taken a step forward in his second week of practice, turning in a full session for the first time since he sustained a multi-ligament left knee injury back on Dec. 21, 2024. The Texans will likely want to see Dell turn in additional full practices before reinstating him from injured reserve, but he could have a shot at making his 2026 debut as soon as Sunday against the Jaguars in London if all goes well over the next few days. Once he's reinstated, Dell will be vying with the newly acquired Marvin Harrison as well as Kayshon Boutte, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel for playing time behind No. 1 wideout Nico Collins.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Won't return for Week 5
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Dell (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Dell's 21-day practice window to return from injured reserve opened Wednesday, and the fourth-year wideout logged back-to-back limited practices before not participating in Friday's session. He's in the final stages of his recovery from a severe left knee injury that he sustained in late December of 2024, and while he won't return for Week 5, his next chance to do so is Week 6 against the Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 18.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Remains limited in practice Thursday
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Dell (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Though he didn't take a step forward in terms of activity after being listed as limited Wednesday upon having his 21-day practice window opened, Dell was seen donning full pads Thursday, per DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com. The wideout will likely still need to complete multiple full practices before being activated from injured reserve, so he could face an uphill battle to play in Sunday's game against the Titans. However, so long as Dell's surgically repaired left knee responds well as he ramps up his practice activity, he should be on pace to make his 2026 debut by midseason.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Limited in return to practice
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Dell (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Dell made his first practice appearance of the regular season, though he remains on injured reserve after his 21-day evaluation window was officially opened Wednesday. The Texans have been taking it easy with Dell as he works his way back from a severe multi-ligament left knee injury, which he sustained Dec. 21, 2024. Houston has plenty of opportunity for snaps and targets behind No. 1 receiver Nico Collins, but in order to stake his claim to a meaningful role once he's activated from IR at some point over the next three weeks, Dell will need to show in practices that he hasn't lost too much of his pre-injury speed and explosiveness.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Designated to return from IR
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The Texans designated Dell (knee) to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
The move opens Dell's 21-day practice window, so he should be back on the field sometime in the next three weeks. Houston's offense is devoid of speed and playmaking ability outside of Nico Collins, but it's also unclear if Dell is going to be the same player he was before suffering his gruesome knee injury late in the 2024 season. He's a total unknown at this point and will compete for snaps and targets with the likes of Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson once he returns to action.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Inching closer to return
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Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Tuesday that Dell (knee) is getting "closer" to a return, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. "He's close, he's not quite there," Caserio said. "He's closer than he was during training camp."
Dell was placed on injured reserve with a designation for return to begin the season and will be required to miss at least the Texans' first four games. While Dell is sidelined, the likes of Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson will vie for snaps behind No. 1 wideout Nico Collins.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Working back at his own pace
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Coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that he's unsure if Dell (knee) will play during the Texans' preseason slate, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. "With Tank, he's on his own plan," Ryans noted. "Whatever that entails, geared toward what's best for Tank Dell."
Dell didn't play in Friday's preseason game against the Chargers, which comes as no surprise because he's been limited to individual drills after missing the entire 2025 campaign following a December 2024 play in which he dislocated his left kneecap while also tearing the ACL and MCL in that knee. The Texans' next exhibition is Thursday versus the Raiders, and Houston opens the regular season Sunday, Sept. 13 against the Bills.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Involved in full-team drills Monday
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Dell (knee) participated in "full-team drills" Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell practiced in pads last week for the first time since injuring his knee, and after initially being limited to individual drills he has advanced to team work. His status for Week 1 remains uncertain, but if he can avoid any setbacks there's reason to believe he'll be out there when the regular season gets underway.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Week 1 status unclear
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Dell said, "I'm taking it one day at a time" when asked Friday about his potential availability for Week 1 of the regular season versus Buffalo, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
Dell practiced with pads Wednesday for the first time in training camp, though at this point he's limited to individual drills. The Texans have so far not committed to a timeframe for when Dell will be ready to play during the regular season, but the good news is that doctors have deemed his knee "100 percent stable." When Dell gets into a contest, it will be his first game action since he tore multiple knee ligaments and dislocated his kneecap against the Chiefs in Week 16 of the 2024 campaign.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Being ramped up
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Dell (knee) will be held out of full-team reps to open training camp, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Dell's limitations are no surprise, though it is encouraging that he was able to avoid the active/PUP list to kick off camp. Wilson reports that Dell will work on the side during Wednesday's practice and for the early portion of training camp. It remains to be seen when Dell will be cleared for full-team work, but the wideout's recovery from his multi-ligament knee injury continues to look encouraging.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Moved to reserve/PUP list
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The Texans placed Dell (knee) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
Dell will be required to miss a minimum of four games, though it remains to be see exactly when -- if at all -- he'll be ready to resume practicing. The 2023 third-round pick is recovering from a severe knee injury sustained last December. Nico Collins and Christian Kirk will kick off the 2025 campaign as C.J. Stroud's clear top two wide receivers, while rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel compete for No. 3 reps.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Progressing, but return timeline TBD
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Texans coach DeMeco Ryans reiterated Monday that Dell (knee) remains without a timetable for return, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Wilson reports that Dell is making "steady and impressive progress with major steps taken" following a pair of surgeries to repair the MCL, LCL and ACL in his left knee after he was injured in the Texans' Week 16 loss to the Chiefs. There have been rumblings that Dell could miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season. In an effort to stabilize the wide receiver position following Dell's serious injury and the departure of Stefon Diggs in free agency, the Texans acquired Christian Kirk and then used second- and third-round picks on Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, respectively.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Dislocates kneecap Saturday
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Dell suffered an apparent dislocated kneecap in his left leg during Saturday's loss at Kansas City, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dell was injured as he reeled in a 30-yard touchdown from QB C.J. Stroud in the middle of the third quarter. He remained on the turf for some time as medical staff immobilized his left leg in an air cast before carting him off the field and transporting him to a Kansas City area hospital, where he's expected to remain overnight, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Per Rapoport, doctors still are determining the overall damage to Dell's left knee, and while surgery is a possibility, it has yet to occur.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Will stay in hospital Saturday night
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Coach DeMeco Ryans said Dell will remain in a Kansas City area hospital overnight with a "significant" left knee injury that he suffered during Saturday's loss to the Chiefs, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Dell had his left leg rolled up on while gathering in a 30-yard touchdown from QB C.J. Stroud in the back of the end zone during the third quarter. After teammates immediately signaled to the sideline for assistance, Dell's leg was immobilized in an air cast, and he was carted off the field. With a hospital stay required for further evaluation, he very well may have played his game of the season.
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Texans' Tank Dell: Transported to hospital
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Dell was transported to a Kansas City area hospital during Saturday's loss to the Chiefs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In the process of hauling in a 30-yard touchdown from C.J. Stroud in the third quarter, Dell had his left leg rolled up on, and teammates immediately motioned to the Texans' sideline for assistance. The leg in question was immobilized by an air cast before Dell was carted off the field. Considering he's requiring a visit to the hospital for further evaluation, there's a decent chance Dell may have played his last snap of the 2024 campaign.
