Tank Dell, the promising rookie wide receiver for the Houston Texans, encountered a setback in his impressive debut season due to an unfortunate injury. During Sunday’s 22-17 victory over the Denver Broncos, Dell suffered a fractured fibula, as reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, citing a reliable source.
The injury occurred in the first quarter when Dameon Pierce executed a 3-yard touchdown run. Dell, who played a crucial role in the play with a valuable block, found himself in a vulnerable position as Pierce crossed the goal line. Unfortunately, Dell remained on the ground in pain, dampening the initial joy of Houston scoring its first touchdown of the game.
Following the incident, Dell was carted off the field and initially labeled as questionable before ultimately being ruled out of the game at the beginning of the third quarter.
Despite not making any receptions in Sunday’s win, the 24-year-old receiver has been a pivotal part of the Texans’ turnaround season. Dell’s impressive stats include 47 receptions for 709 yards, ranking him second on the team. Additionally, the rookie led all Texans pass catchers with seven touchdowns. In tandem with Nico Collins, Dell was tied for the most first-down conversions (34) on the team in Week 13.
Drafted by the Texans in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Dell quickly became a fan favorite as a hometown rookie from the University of Houston. His stellar performance in the first 10 games of his NFL career heightened excitement in Houston, but now Dell faces a challenging journey of recovery to resume his promising football career.
