Texans wide receiver Tank Dell, safety Jimmie Ward, defensive tackle Maliek Collins return to practice

HOUSTON – Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell returned to practice Thursday on a limited basis after missing one day with a calf injury.

Dell underwent imaging for the soft-tissue injury. The injury is regarded as relatively minor and there is increasing optimism he will play this week against the Denver Broncos, per a league source.

“We expect him to be okay,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday.

A third-round draft pick from the University of Houston, Dell has caught 47 passes for 709 yards and a franchise rookie record seven touchdowns. He’s on pace to finish the season with 73 catches, 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“They’re grinding, they’re out there,” offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said of Dell and wide receiver Noah Brown. “They’re putting their best foot forward doing everything they can to make sure that they’re 1,000 percent ready to go on Sunday and we can use them some way.”

Meanwhile, veteran safety and team captain Jimmie Ward returned to practice from a hamstring injury. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (personal reasons) returned to practice along with offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil (knee) and George Fant (hip). Defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is day to day with an elbow injury and worked on the side Thursday. He was listed as not practicing.

Tight end Dalton Schultz remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. If Schultz misses the game, the Texans will lean on tight ends Brevin Jordan and Eric Saubert and could elevate Dalton Keene from the practice squad.

Brown returned to practice Wednesday after missing the past two games with a knee contusion. He has caught 21 passes for 439 yards and one touchdown, averaging 20.9 yards per catch. He had a career-high 172 yards on seven catches against the Cincinnati Bengals in his last game before being sidelined. He caught six passes for 153 yards and one score against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was limited.

Linebacker Jake Hansen (hand surgery, hamstring) participated fully.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud participated fully with a thigh injury Wednesday and Thursday.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.