Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was carted off the field with what coach DeMeco Ryans described as a “significant” knee injury following a touchdown catch during Saturday’s 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dell was transported to the University of Kansas Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center located about 12 miles from Arrowhead Stadium. Ryans reported on Sunday that Dell was scheduled to fly back to Houston but was still set to meet with doctors for further evaluation.
Dell dislocated his kneecap, corroborating an earlier report from NFL Network. The extent of any additional knee injuries was not immediately known.
The injury occurred on the Texans’ first possession of the second half when quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with Dell for a 30-yard touchdown pass that brought the Texans within one point at 17-16.
However, during the reception, Dell collided with teammate Jared Wayne’s lower leg deep in the end zone. Dell immediately grabbed his leg and remained mostly immobile.
Several players gathered around Dell, some visibly emotional, as medical staff placed his leg in an air cast before he was lifted into the cart.
At the time of the injury, Dell had a team-high 98 yards on seven catches, including the touchdown, and had been playing a major role for the Texans.
“It hurts to see him go down like that,” Ryans said on Saturday. “He was having a fantastic game.”
After Dell’s injury, the Texans had three more possessions but only managed to score three points.
With 5:13 remaining and trailing 27-19, the Texans had a chance to rally, but two negative plays were followed by a sack of Stroud on third down, resulting in a punt. The Chiefs’ offense then ran out the clock, securing the victory.
Stroud, visibly shaken after the injury, expressed his emotional support for Dell in the postgame interview.
“It’s not easy seeing your brother go down like that,” Stroud said. “I’m just tore up. But at the same time, I have to be strong for him.
For anything, whether it goes left or right, up or down, I have to praise my Lord and savior. It’s not easy, but after [the injury], I try to use it as motivation. It’s not easy to just let it go.
That’s my best friend. It’s not easy to move on and just keep playing. I tried to do the best that 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 it.”
Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, who finished the game with seven catches for 60 yards, struggled to find the words to describe his emotions postgame.
“That s— 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 for my dog. Mentally, he’s going through it, but we have to keep stepping, keep climbing for him.”
Dell’s rookie season in 2023 was cut short after a broken leg suffered in early December during a game against the Denver Broncos.
Later that same year, in late April, Dell was shot at a private event in Sanford, Florida, where a teenage gunman injured 10 people following an altercation. Dell’s injury was minor, and he was released from the hospital shortly after.
This season, Dell has 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
The Texans’ injury woes didn’t end with Dell. Guard Shaq Mason sustained a knee injury during a pileup in the first quarter and was ruled out shortly thereafter. Safety Jimmie Ward also suffered a foot injury in the second quarter and was carted off the field.
The Texans have just three full days to recover from this loss before they host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
