Jan. 29, 2026, 2:25 p.m. CT

Tank Dell is ready to run it back in 2026.

The Houston Texans‘ star wideout told reporters on Wednesday that he’s “back” after missing the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury. He plans to work out with the team during offeseason drills and plans to take over games come Week 1 of his final year under contract.

“What I’ve been through is something that taught me to be humble and just keep working,” Dell told reporters in his first public comments about his recovery. “But I’m back. I feel like I’m feeling good right now… Once the season comes, we’re gonna cook up.” 

Dell, a former 2023 third-round pick and rising star as quarterback C.J. Stroud’s favorite target, suffered a horrific knee injury after catching a touchdown in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs the required him to be hospitalized overnight. Further testing showed that Dell had suffered a torn ACL, MCL, LCL and meniscus damage, along with a dislocated knee, all ailments that required several surgeries and months of rehabilitation, costing him 14 months and 20-plus games.

Since entering the NFL, Dell has been a confidant and a go-to weapon for Stroud since being drafted out of the University of Houston. As a rookie, Dell totaled 709 receiving yards and tied the rookie record for touchdowns with seven before a broken leg ended his season in early December.

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Last season, even after missing three games, Dell still managed to total 51 catches for 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns, serving as the Texans’ No. 2 target following Stefon Diggs’ season-ending injury. Dell said that missing the past season was “the hardest year of my life” since it marked the first time since his youth that he didn’t play football.

“I’ve been playing football since I was 5, and that was the first year I’ve ever had to sit out from football,” Dell said. “That was hard.” 

The fourth-year pro also confirmed that he tried to play at the season’s end, but the timing with the injury just didn’t add up.

“I wanted to be out there with the guys last year,” Dell said. “But I’ve got time now and I’ll be ready.”

The Texans own the No. 28 pick in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft.