HOUSTON \u2013 Tank Dell running free, crossing up defensive backs with his trademark electric cuts, catching touchdown passes from C.J. Stroud.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the vision for the Texans\u2019 wide receiver. 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.<\/p>\n
The Texans do expect the former University of Houston standout to participate in the offseason conditioning program. Dell is rehabbing from a pair of surgeries to repair a dislocated knee, torn anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and lateral collateral ligament suffered while catching a touchdown in December 2024 against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe worked very hard,\u201d Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. \u201cI 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\u2019ll probably have a better idea. Knowing Tank, he\u2019s probably cautiously optimistic that he\u2019s going to be able to go out there and be Tank Dell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think everybody is hoping that\u2019s the case, but you never know. None of us control injuries and what happens. but I think everybody is rooting for Tank. He\u2019s worked very hard and had a great attitude. I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
One of the biggest elements that the Texans\u2019 offense was missing all season: the presence of a dangerous slot receiver.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because Dell missed the entire season.<\/p>\n
Dell tried to make it back for the end of this season, but the plan was always for him to spend the season after undergoing several surgeries to repair a dislocated knee. Dell had his anterior cruciate ligament repaired with a standard reconstruction procedure. And he had his lateral collateral ligament and medial collateral ligaments repaired as former Texans team doctor Walter Lowe performed both procedures.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Texans missed the spark Dell provides to the offense with his outstanding route running skills and explosiveness after the catch.<\/p>\n
He has caught 98 career passes for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in 25 career games. <\/p>\n
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<\/a> while attending a party as an innocent bystander.<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, coming off a brutally erratic performance in the playoffs with five interceptions, five fumbles and seven total turnovers combined against the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, is thrilled to have one of his best friends back for next season.<\/p>\n \u201cTank is a brother of mine, somebody who\u2019s like blood to me,\u201d Stroud said. \u201cTo see what he\u2019s gone through the last two years has been heartbreaking and he\u2019s been through a lot. But I know he\u2019s grown a lot as a person and as a young man, especially as a man of God. So, I\u2019m proud of him. The smile he continues to have on his face is contagious. <\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019m super proud of him and I can\u2019t wait to get him on the field. You all know the connection we have.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Dell is inspirational to his teammates, including Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, man, you know, Tank, he wants to be out here,\u201d Collins said this past season. \u201cWe 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\u2019s heartbreaking, it\u2019s crushing when you can\u2019t be out there with your brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see them every day and you\u2019re like, dang, I miss you bro, you know what I\u2019m saying. We know in spirit he\u2019s getting better, so we\u2019re 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\u2019s in great spirits, though.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n