HOUSTON – Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell is out for the season with a broken fibula that required surgery.
Dell isn’t away from the team, though. He’s been rehabbing his leg at NRG Stadium.
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On Sunday, he’ll ‘Rep H-Town’ before kickoff to help fire up the crowd.
“What’s up Texans fans? It’s your boy, Tank. I can’t wait to be Reppin H-Town Sunday before kickoff. I need y’all there early and I need y’all to be loud.”
YOU HEARD 3 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/bm6x3AOx2A
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 29, 2023
One of the most dynamic rookies in the NFL and dangerous wide receivers in the league, Dell broke his fibula against the Denver Broncos. He had successful surgery and was placed on injured reserve.
“Went great,” a league source said. “Tank will be back stronger than ever.
“Unfortunate for Tank, he’ll be out for the rest of the season,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans sai. “He had a successful surgery this morning, so onto a speedy recovery. Our prayers are with Tank, our thoughts are with him. He’s been such an inspiration for our team, just an incredible young man.
“Happy for the season he has had as a rookie and the impact that he has as a person, as a player for our organization. Expect to get him back before next offseason program.”
Dell finished his outstanding season with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. He was on track for 73 catches, 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns. Dell previously broke tight end Owen Daniels’ rookie franchise record for touchdown catches.
“No one replaces Tank, Tank is his own man,” Ryans said. “Nobody replaces Tank, but everybody around him just has to step up and just do their part – be their best in whatever role, whatever area we ask them to. We just ask them to be their best. It takes everyone. When you lose a guy who brings that emotional lift to your team, it’s going to take everyone to dig a little deeper and pick it up and do a little bit better.”
Dell could be heard yelling when the injury happened.
“Yeah, he’ll bounce back,” Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil said. “I feel sorry for him, man. He was having a good year. The next-man-up mentality, very sad to say.”
As emotional and important as the win was to the Texans’ turnaround from last season from a 3-13-1 record a year ago, Dell’s energy and positive attitude were unique traits that set him apart.
“Really hurt us losing Tank,” Ryans said. “Tank has been very valuable to our team. He has provided a spark to our team each and every week that he’s on the field. Everybody is just waiting for that moment. You know it’s going to happen when he shows up and he makes an explosive play for us or he’s scoring a touchdown.
“So, to lose Tank there with a leg injury it hurts our team really because of what he means to our team. Not only on the field, but off the field Tank always has a huge smile on his face, always full of energy. Just really hurts losing Tank.”
Dell will devote himself to getting healthy again and making his second NFL season even better than his first one.
“That’s my dawg, he’s going to be all right,” tight end Brevin Jordan said. “He’s a soldier. He’s a man of Christ. He’s going to be good, he’s going to get back to work.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
