Texans wide receiver Tank Dell confident heading into season: ‘Be proud of yourself, but you’re on a mission right now.’

HOUSTON – Tank Dell was at home recovering from a broken fibula while watching the Texans’ game on television and fired up as wide receiver Nico Collins dominated the Indianapolis Colts’ secondary in a clutch road performance.

Collins’ 75-yard touchdown catch on the first play of the Texans’ AFC South division clinching victory got Dell fired up during his convalescence. Regardless of a broken leg, Dell was celebrating thousands of miles away from Lucas Oil Stadium.

“I actually was talking to Nico, I watched it from home and I told him once he scored the first touchdown, the first play of the game, I was jumping all around my house,” Dell said Friday afternoon. “It was fun, I’m ready to get out there now.”

A fired-up Dell has worked diligently to be ready for this moment, overcoming the injury that ended his promising rookie season prematurely as well as being the victim of a crime this offseason when he suffered a gunshot wound through his leg. Undeterred by any of that, Dell just kept working and has been electric during the preseason with a touchdown catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

After a long offseason, after months of preparations, the Texans’ wide receiver and former University of Houston standout is pumped for Sunday’s road season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

“We’re excited for sure, we ready,” Dell said. “You know during the preseason when we had the other guys out there we were excited for those guys. While they were playing, we were on the sideline and we were like ready to get out there, like can we get another rep? So, it’s here now, so be ready.”

Dell was on track for 73 catches, 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie before he broke his fibula against the Denver Broncos, ending his season as he underwent surgery to repair the damage. Even in an injury-abbreviated season, the speedy third-round draft pick broke former Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels’ rookie franchise record for touchdown catches.

Now, Dell is even more confident in his skills one year later.

“I feel like I attack the game the same way I attacked it last year,” Dell said. “For me, my preparation is through the roof. I feel like day in and day out I take care of my body on the field, going 100 percent every rep, getting my extra catches. Everything I did last year, I’m doing the same thing. I’m staying in my routine and I’m just trying to get better one percent at a time, one percent better every day. That’s just me.”

Four of the Texans’ catches of at least 20 yards or more came on Dell touchdown receptions. That was the third-highest mark in the league for any receiver with touchdowns of at least 20 yards, at the time of his injury.

Whether it’s in close quarters over the middle or running long as an ultra-dangerous deep threat, the Texans’ wide receiver is a problem for NFL defenses. Although he’s a smaller downfield target, Dell constantly shows up big and has consistently shown toughness, body control and a dynamic ability to make circus catches that other receivers can’t. Every aspect of the route tree has been mastered by Dell.

“Tank is one of our most explosive players and it’s always exciting to see him when he gets the ball in his hands,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He has shown that from U of H, he’s been an explosive player and he comes here his rookie year and was dynamic and explosive for us again. I tell Tank ‘That’s who you are and I expect you to be explosive every time you touch the ball.’

“Like everybody needs to be standing up in the crowd like what’s about to happen when Tank has the ball in his hands. As you saw with him on the punt return, or it’s receiving. Any time he touches the ball you have action, so I’m always excited to watch Tank and he is one of my favorite guys to watch because he is such an exciting player.”

Dell finished the season with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games and six starts with 75 targets.

Belief in himself is never an issue for Dell. He has swagger and determination working in his favor.

“Definitely, I don’t lose that,” Dell said. “It doesn’t leave me at all. My confidence doesn’t waver. I feel like when I am out there at any moment I can make a play. That is the confidence you have to have in yourself to go out and make the play. I feel good.”

Although there’s plenty of hype surrounding the Texans, who have been touted as a trendy Super Bowl contender in the ultra-competitive AFC, the focus remains on one day, one practice, one game and week at a time. That’s coach Ryans’ adage followed by the guys.

“I mean you see it, but you really try not to play into it, coach DeMeco harps on that like, you know, ‘outside noise, outside noise,’” Dell said. “We just focus on where we are right now, where our feet are at and try to make plays every game.

“All the glory goes to God. I feel like everybody’s grateful to be in this position. There’s a lot of people who wish they had a chance to play in the NFL, so I feel like you can for sure take a step back and be proud of yourself, but, at the same time, you’re on a mission right now.”

The matchup with a Colts secondary led by nickel Kenny Moore II beckons for Dell and a gifted receiving corps.

“They’ve got a good secondary,” Dell said. “They’re tall, they’re rangy, they can move. So, it’s going to be a good game. It’s good competition and I know they’re going to be ready.”

Adversity wasn’t going to stop Dell. Nothing has deterred Dell, a speedster who plays the game with an obvious joy, energy and acceleration that’s unmatched.

His chemistry with Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud, his close friend, is obvious every game.

“He’s tough, he’s resilient, you can’t deny it,” Stroud said. “Just pure, one God-given talent, but just hard working, the hard work he puts in day in, day out. I think every time he touches the field, you see it on display. So, I think it’s just a start for him and he’s going to continue to grow. It’s amazing to have one of my best friends back on the field.”

Following a promising rookie season ended abruptly by a broken fibula, a fully healthy Dell is primed for his second NFL season. And a theme of improvement is obvious surrounding Dell. Whether it’s his increased knowledge of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense, his close bond with Stroud and how much he’s always learning from older players like Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the arrow is pointing upward for Dell.

“I try to improve everywhere,” Dell told KPRC 2. “Mentally, like I know what it takes to win NFL games is very hard. Just getting in the playbook, watching film every day and watching film throughout the week and being prepared. I just feel stronger I feel faster I feel blessed.”

Dell is a key part of a vibrant receiving corps. Headlined by Diggs, acquired in an offseason trade from the Buffalo Bills, Collins, signed to a $75 million contract extension following a breakout season, and Dell, the Texans have a legitimate claim on being arguably the top receiving corps in the NFL. They’re firmly in the conversation along with the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals.

Yes, the Texans are aware of the conversations surrounding the talented receiving group. Yes, they talk about it internally. And they’re not taking anything for granted. Talk is talk. Action is what counts.

“Definitely, people around are saying it, we’re saying it ourselves,” Dell said. “But, at the end of the day, we’ve still got to go out there every Monday night, Sunday night, Thursday night football. We’ve got to prove it every time we step on the field. We can say it all we want, but we’ve got to put it on the field. We’re just waiting on the moment.”

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