Texans WR Tank Dell out for the season with ACL injury

During the Houston Texans' 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, Texans wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a horrific injury early in the second half. Just after scoring a 30-yard touchdown to put the Texans within a point of the Chiefs. Dell was down on the ground and pointing to his left knee, where he’d collided with teammate Jared Wayne, who’d been going for the ball at the same time,

While Dell was down on the ground, his teammates looked visibly upset, especially quarterback C.J. Stroud, who’d thrown the pass to him and was brought to tears witnessing the injury.

Dell out for the season with ACL tear

After Dell was carted off the field to the medical tent, he was transported to the University of Kansas Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, where he stayed overnight. He flew back to Houston on Sunday for further medical evaluation.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed on Monday that Dell’s injury was a torn ACL and dislocated kneecap and will have to undergo season-ending surgery. Dell is in just his second NFL season. His rookie season last year was cut short due to a broken leg suffered in December as well. In April, Dell was shot by a teenager who opened fire at an event in Florida.

Stroud said that part of his emotion was due to the fact that he knew how much Dell had to overcome in order to play again this season.

“It’s not easy to see your brother go down like that after just dealing with a season injury last year,” Stroud said. “It’s not a lot to say, this isn’t the end for him. This is just another bump in the road.”

The 9-6 Texans have already secured their ticket to the playoffs, but they’ll have to finish the season and head to the postseason without Dell in the lineup. Dell finishes the season with 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns. In Week 17, they face the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day and will look to John Metchie III, Robert Woods, and Xavier Hutchinson to step up in Dell’s absence.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.