HOUSTON – Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell returned to practice Monday from a concussion following an open week and is projected to play in a road game against the Carolina Panthers.
Dell was sidelined against the New Orleans Saints while under the NFL concussion protocol. His symptoms quickly subsided, per league sources, after getting hurt against the Atlanta Falcons while making a catch and landing on his head.
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“Getting Tank back is big for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Tank has, as we’ve all seen, he’s made big-time plays every game that he’s been out there. He’s been a consistent guy that we can count on when we need a big play. So, it’s exciting to have Tank back, and just thankful that he’s healthy and he’s back feeling better and ready to roll.”
Dell has caught 19 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 28 targets. The third-round draft pick from the University of Houston is on pace for 79 catches, 918 yards and six touchdowns.
A standout with the Coogs, Dell emerged as one of the most dangerous rookie wide receivers.
“Yeah, Tank was a good player at Houston,” Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. “He’s a good player, he showed at the Senior Bowl. I think what we’ve seen from Tank is no different than what we’ve seen here from the March process to the spring to where we are now.
“Tank has got a great attitude, cares a lot about football, cares a lot about winning. Very competitive. I’d say he’s very driven. He’s very motivated. Love having him on the team. Love his mindset, love his attitude, and he’s producing when he’s been on the field.”
Wide receiver Robert Woods (ribs) and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) didn’t practice, but were present. Both are expected to play against the Panthers.
Texans rookie center Juice Scruggs is nearly back from a strained hamstring that prompted the team to place him on injured reserve. Scruggs’ leg has improved significantly. The Texans haven’t had to rush their second-round draft pick from Penn State back because rookie center Jarrett Patterson has played solidly in starting the first six games of the season.
Scruggs didn’t return to practice Monday, and neither did defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway.
Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is making a sound recovery from an upper hamstring injury that has been projected as six to eight weeks at a minimum, per league sources. The Texans have no plans to rush back the former consensus All-American from LSU, per sources, after he was placed on injured reserve before a Sept. 24 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Texans want Stingley to get back on the field and finish the season healthy rather than risk a potential setback.
“With Stingley, I think his recovery process is going, he’s on schedule,” Ryans said. “He’s on plan. He’s doing well. Juice, same way, we’ll see where he ends up over the next week or so.”
When starting center Scott Quessenberry was ruled out for the season on injured reserve with torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, Scruggs was supposed to replace him. Instead, Scruggs got hurt in the preseason against the Saints and was placed on injured reserve, too.
During his NFL preseason debut against the New England Patriots, in a dozen snaps, Scruggs acquitted himself well.
Scruggs didn’t look out of place at all. He looked strong and confident.
“There’s some good stuff to build on,” Texans offensive line coach Chris Strausser told KPRC 2 at the time. “Twelve plays is not a lot to evaluate, but there was enough stuff to see there. Definitely got some of the details stuff to clean up that you would probably expect from a rookie, but he’s showing his athleticism, which was exciting to see.”
Texans veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman, a former Pro Bowl selection with the Las Vegas Raiders, was inactive against the Saints. Perryman started the previous game at an unfamiliar position, Will linebacker, and didn’t have a great game. He is playing with a broken hand and is wearing a protective club. The club was the primary reason he didn’t play against the Saints along with Christian Harris being back from a concussion. The Texans’ top performing linebacker against the Saints was Blake Cashman, who recorded a career-high 15 tackles with two tackles for losses and two passes defensed.
“Denzel is a fighter,” Ryans said. “He wants to go out there, but with him with the club cast on and having Christian back at this time, I don’t think it would be beneficial to Denzel to put him out there with one hand.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com