The Houston Texans are taking on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5 without the services of wide receiver Tank Dell, who remains sidelined as he recovers from a knee injury suffered during the 2024 campaign, but had something to say to one of his teammates.
Dell is one of the Texans’ top receivers, and his absence was certainly felt, especially early on, as the team got out to a 0-3 start this season. They have since snapped their skid.
The Texans got rolling in Week 4 and continued in Week 5, drawing Dell’s commentary.
Texans WR Xavier Hutchinson Scores 2 TDs, Gets Tank Dell’s Attention
GettyXavier Hutchinson #19 of the Houston Texans celebrates after a receiving touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
Dell’s message, sent to fellow TExans wideout Xavier Hutchinson, came in celebration of his teammate’s first two touchdown receptions of the season. Hutchinson had three receptions for 18 yards in the first half of the contest. He entered Sunday with nine catches for 92 yards.
Hutchinson scored the Texans’ first and third TDs of the contest.
“Say hutch,” Dell posted on X on October 5 after Hutchinson’s second score, along with a laughing emoji and two “No. 1” finger emojis, celebrating his draft classmate.
Hutchinson was a sixth-round pick (No. 205 overall) by the Texans in the 2023 draft. He had 29 receptions for 299 yards in his career before today, when he scored his first two touchdown receptions in the NFL regular season.
Dell drew attention before the Texans took the field in, or even began preparing for, Week 5.
Tank Dell Making Progress in Recovery
GettyTank Dell of the Houston Texans looks on from the sideline during a game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Houston Cougars.
Dell piqued interest during Week 3, when CBS Sports’ Ross Tucker noted seeing the 2023 third-round pick during pregame before the Texans took on the Tennessee Titans.
“We did see Tank Dell was out running sprints which is encouraging,” Tucker said, per Chron’s Michael Shapiro in September after the game. “Man, they are a different offense when that young man is out there. The connection that young man has with C.J. Stroud and has going back to their rookie year is special.”
Dell was seen walking without crutches at Houston’s game against Texas Tech on Saturday.
Dell is one of Stroud’s favorite targets, his friend, and one of the team’s few proven field-stretching options. At least he was before suffering a dislocated kneecap that also saw him tear multiple knee ligaments.
Dell has a 98-1,376-10 line in his one-plus seasons on the field for the Texans, underscoring how much they miss his presence.
Former Texans Star DeAndre Hopkins Makes Early Impact
GettyDeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Baltimore Ravens makes a catch against the Houston Texans.
Before Dell, and before current WR1 Nico Collins, the Texans leaned on DeAndre Hopkins for seven years.
Now a member of the Ravens, Hopkins is in the latter stages of his career and no longer commands the attention, be it from his quarterback or opposing defense, that he once did for Houston.
He made his presence felt early against the Texans in Week 5.
Things slowed down for Hokpins, who had two grabs for 46 yards through three quarters of the game. Hopkins has faced the Texans four times before Sunday’s meeting. He entered the game 2-2 with a 20-183-1 line against his former team, but faced insurmountable odds this time.
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