While C.J. Stroud is undeniably the biggest star on the Houston Texans, and Nico Collins is far and away Houston’s best wide receiver, it’s fair to say there may not be a more beloved or sympathetic figure in the entire Texans organization than 25-year-old wide receiver Tank Dell.
Unfortunately, to earn that distinction, Dell has had to have been dealt a pair of season-ending injuries that would test the resolve of even the most mentality strong athletes alive. In 2023, Dell fractured his fibula in a Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos. Impressively, he was back by Week 1 of the following season, and played in 14 games before suffering a devastating knee injury that required surgery to repair multiple torn ligaments.
With Houston Texans training camp underway, the progress of Tank Dell’s recovery was an obvious talking point. Both head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio have provided updates on the former Houston Cougars product who has remained in the Lone Star state after two All-AAC seasons.
“He’s doing phenomenal. Really great headspace,” Ryans told reporters July 23, according to Cole Thompson of Texans Wire. “Great to see him just in our meetings into it. So, whenever Tank is ready to go back, he’ll be back.”
2025 Return Remains a Distant Possibility for Tank Dell
In all likelihood, Tank Dell won’t be ‘ready to go’ until the 2026 season, giving him over 18 months to fully recover and get back to 100 percent. However, the intentionally vague nature in which Ryans spoke about was echoed by Caserio, who indicated the Texans aren’t necessarily shutting the door on Dell returning in 2025.
“Kind of one day at a time,” Caserio said, per KHOU 11. “Tank’s had a good attitude. He’s been in the building essentially every day. He’s working really hard, so we’re not gonna put any timetables on anything. If he’s ready to play, great, if he’s not, he’s not. So, we’ll kind of take it as it comes.”
A statement such as this one represents leaving the door cracked open just a sliver. Assuming the Texans make a deep run — perhaps to the Super Bowl — maybe that opens the door wider for Tank Dell to come back this season, but it’s far more likely it will be Nico Collins, Christian Kirk and a pair of rookie wideouts who receive the majority of the targets throughout the year.
Dell’s Absence Creates Early Opportunities for Rookie WR’s
To account not only for Tank Dell’s absence, but also the departure of Stefon Diggs to the New England Patriots, the Texans snagged not one, but two wide receivers in the NFL Draft… Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, who coincidentally played together at Iowa State for two seasons at Iowa State.
Higgins and Noel both topped the 1,000 yard mark for the Cyclones during the 2024 season, and across both of those season, their numbers were practically identical. Slotted behind Collins and Kirk at the very least, Higgins and Noel will be competing with the likes of Xavier Hutchinson, John Metchie III and Justin Watson for the remainders of C.J. Stroud’s targets.
Fortunately for the two Cyclones rookies, they’re both already on Stroud’s radar only a couple of days into training camp.
“They came in with a great mindset — really mature guys, guys who love to work consistently here at the building,” Stroud told reporters on July 23. “I’m really excited to see those guys’ growth and see them take a step forward each and every day. It’s not going to be perfect for those guys but I think they’re gonna make a lot of plays I am excited to see.”
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