HOUSTON – Tank Dell endured indescribable pain from a gruesome knee injury he suffered one season ago.
The Texans’ wide receiver went through two surgeries to repair a dislocated knee, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament.
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He fought through all of the doubt and frustration of an injury that interrupted the dynamic start to his NFL career, leaning on faith, hard work, family, friends and coaches like DeMeco Ryans to remain positive and optimistic.
Dell called it the hardest year of his life.
Now, Dell is ready for comeback season as he’s on track to make a healthy return for next season and get back to playing the game he loves.
“What I’ve been through is something that taught me to be humble and just keep working, I’m back, I’m feeling good right now,” Dell said Wednesday night while hosting a shopping spree at Academy Sports and Outdoors for athletes from Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston in honor of National Women’s and Girls Sports Day. “Once the season comes, I’m gonna cook up.”
Running free, catching touchdown passes, bolting past coverage.
That’s the vision for Dell. The comeback trail is being paved month by month for Dell as he continues to strengthen his surgically repaired knee after a devastating knee injury a year ago that sidelined him for the entire season.
Dell tried to make a return for the end of the season as the Texans made another playoff run that ended in the divisional round, but it was regarded as too soon for him to get back out there.
“I was making a push, I wanted to be out there with the guys,” Dell said. “Last Year, that football season alone, was the hardest year of my life. Just sitting out of football for a year straight. Been playing football since I was five and that was my first year I ever had to sit out of football so that was hard. I tried to make a push back, it didn’t go as planned. I got time now and I’ll be ready.”
The Texans do expect the former University of Houston standout to participate in the offseason conditioning program. Dell is rehabbing from injuries sustained while catching a touchdown in December 2024 against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
“He worked very hard,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. “I think our performance group, they do a really good job. I would anticipate him being available for the offseason and then really April, May and June we’ll probably have a better idea. Knowing Tank, he’s probably cautiously optimistic that he’s going to be able to go out there and be Tank Dell.
“I think everybody is hoping that’s the case, but you never know. None of us control injuries and what happens. but I think everybody is rooting for Tank. He’s worked very hard and had a great attitude. I’m excited to see him out there moving around. Nobody is more excited than he is, so it will be good once we start getting on the field and getting on the grass to see what that looks like.”
When Dell got hurt, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was inconsolable as he burst into tears. It was a traumatic experience for Dell and his best friend.
Stroud supported Dell, just as Dell is now behind the embattled former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after he had five interceptions and five fumbles, and seven total turnovers in two playoff games. The Texans’ season ended in a loss to the New England Patriots as Stroud threw a career-high four interceptions in one half at Gillette Stadium.
Stroud is the subject of heavy criticism locally and nationally and on social media with lots of cruel jokes and commentary surrounding one of the most successful young quarterbacks in the league.
“In every way possible, like he was there for me,” Dell said of his support for Stroud. “People can say what they want about seven, you know. They sitting on the couches just typing on the computer, typing on their phones. But everybody knows who seven is.
“Especially in the facility, we know who he is. And when we get back out there with him, it’s going to be special. So, we can let them say what they want about him.”
Dell had a good time supporting the athletes from Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston.
“It’s fun,” Dell said. “My sister used to do sports and I just know how she felt about sports. So, it’s fun to just see them have a future in sports. I feel like it’s a good thing and I’m excited.”
One of the biggest elements that the Texans’ offense was missing all season: the presence of a dangerous slot receiver.
That’s because Dell missed the entire season.
Dell tried to make it back for the end of this season, but the plan was always for him to spend the season sidelined after undergoing several surgeries to repair a dislocated knee.
Now, Dell is poised to make a healthy comeback for the 2026 season. He has remained in good spirits throughout a long, grueling rehabilitation process.
“Very supportive, you know, from top to bottom,” Dell said. “Everybody in the facility, from the coaching staff to even our cooks in the facility, everybody was supportive of me. Praying for me, of course, keeping me in their prayers, and especially my teammates and my closest people.”
The Texans missed the spark Dell provides to the offense with his outstanding route running skills and explosiveness after the catch.
He has caught 98 career passes for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 career games.
The knee injury marked the latest adversity for Dell whose dynamic rookie season was ended prematurely by a broken fibula that required surgery to repair the damage. Months later, Dell was the victim of a gunshot wound in his leg during a mass shooting in Florida while attending a party as an innocent bystander.
Then, he injured his knee in Kansas City after taking over as a starter when Stefon Diggs tore his anterior cruciate ligament and caught 51 passes for 667 yards and three touchdowns.
Stroud, coming off an erratic performance in the playoffs against the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, is thrilled to have one of his best friends back for next season.
“Tank is a brother of mine, somebody who’s like blood to me,” Stroud said. “To see what he’s gone through the last two years has been heartbreaking and he’s been through a lot. But I know he’s grown a lot as a person and as a young man, especially as a man of God. So, I’m proud of him. The smile he continues to have on his face is contagious.
“I think for him too, being here every day putting in the work and putting his best foot forward in some situations that were out of his control, I think is amazing to see him do that. So, I’m super proud of him and I can’t wait to get him on the field. You all know the connection we have.”
Dell is inspirational to his teammates, including Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins.
“Yeah, man, you know, Tank, he wants to be out here,” Collins said this past season. “We got to continue to keep his spirits up, tell him we out here for you. Be in his corner no matter what. You know, like nobody want to miss the game you love. It’s heartbreaking, it’s crushing when you can’t be out there with your brothers.
“You see them every day and you’re like, dang, I miss you bro, you know what I’m saying. We know in spirit he’s getting better, so we’re going to go out here keep spinning it for him and make plays for him and keep his spirits up. We going to pick up where we left off. He’s in great spirits, though.”
Stroud and Dell, a fixture at practices and games, can perhaps get an inconsistent offense rolling gain. The Texans could have a receiving corps that includes Collins, Jayden Higgins, Dell, Justin Watson and Jaylin Noel. Christian Kirk is a pending free agent.
“You all know the connection we have and I know he’s getting his No. 1 back, so he’s happy about that,” Stroud said of Dell wearing his college jersey next year after wearing No. 3 previously. “I’m happy for him to get Uno back. So, we’re going to be coming back trim and I can’t wait to get my brother back on the field. I think our connection, hopefully our chemistry picks right back up where we left off.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com