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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was carted off the field with what coach DeMeco Ryans later called a “significant” knee injury after catching a touchdown pass from the quarterback CJ Stroud in the third quarter of Saturday’s 27-19 loss. to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dell was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center about 12 miles from Arrowhead Stadium.
A source told ESPN that Dell dislocated his kneecap, confirming a report from NFL Network. It was not immediately known about other possible injuries to the knee.
Ryans said Dell would remain in the hospital overnight for further evaluation.
“All of our thoughts and prayers are with Tank at this time,” Ryans said. “You can see what it means to our entire team.”
On the Texans’ first possession of the second half, Stroud threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dell to cut Kansas City’s lead to 17-16. But on the catch, Houston receiver Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s lower leg deep in the end zone, and Dell immediately grabbed his leg but otherwise barely moved.
The Texans surrounded Dell and some players burst into tears before they put a cast on his leg and loaded him into the back of the cart. The second-year wide receiver out of Houston was playing a big role against the Chiefs, as he had a team-high 98 yards on seven touchdown catches.
“It hurts to see him go down like that,” Ryans said. “He was having a fantastic game.”
Houston had three possessions after Dell was injured and scored just three points. The unit received the ball with 5:13 left and trailing 27-19, but after two negative plays, Stroud was sacked on third down, leading to a punt. The Chiefs offense subsequently picked up multiple first downs and ran out of time.
Stroud, who shed tears after the injury, sent his prayers to Dell after the game.
“It’s not easy to see your brother go down like that,” Stroud said. “I’m devastated.
“But at the same time, I have to be strong for him. For anything, whether left or right, up or down, I have to praise my Lord and savior. It is not easy, but after [the injury]I try to use it as motivation; It’s not easy to just let go. That’s my best friend. It’s not easy to move on and keep playing. I tried to do the best I could. My teammates helped me up, Joe. [Mixon] helped me up and Dalton [Schultz]. “I appreciate the guys just talking to me because I was going through that.”
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, who finished with seven receptions for 60 yards, struggled to find words to express his emotions after the game.
“That hurts. It hurts. We know how much he meant to this team,” Collins said of Dell. “But losing one of your brothers, man, it hurts. Speedy recovery to my dog. Mentally, he’s going through it, but we’ve got to keep taking steps, keep climbing for it.”
Dell’s rookie season in 2023 was cut short after he suffered a broken leg in an early December game against the Denver Broncos. In late April, he was shot at a private event in Sanford, Florida, where authorities said an armed teenager wounded 10 people after an altercation. Dell’s injury was minor and he was released from the hospital shortly after the shooting.
Dell has 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Dell’s injury was the Texans’ third major leg injury of the afternoon. Guard Shaq Mason suffered a knee injury during a pileup in the first quarter. He limped off but was discarded shortly after. Safety Jimmie Ward injured his foot in the second quarter and was removed.
The Texans have just three full days to recover from the loss as they host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
