HOUSTON – Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is unlikely to play in Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to painful bruised ribs suffered at the end of a road loss to the Minnesota Vikings, according to league sources.
Wide receiver Nico Collins was added to the injury report as limited with a hamstring injury. And safety Jimmie Ward didn’t practice due to a groin injury.
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If Ward can’t go, the Texans will likely go with a combination of rookie Calen Bullock, veteran Eric Murray and nickel-safety Jalen Pitre.
Dell also injured his hand-wrist area, but the rib injury is the primary issue.
Dell has not practiced this week and is listed with a chest injury.
His injuries aren’t regarded as long-term issues, but he is dealing with a lot of soreness.
“Yeah, Tank will be day-to-day,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday. “We’ll see how he continues to progress.”
Dell wasn’t available for comment after the game due to his injured status. He didn’t have a wrap or brace on his hand in the locker room after the game.
Dell caught a season-high five passes for 62 yards on six targets in the Texans’ 34-7 loss, their first of the season.
He was injured late in the game and didn’t return with the game out of reach.
“No, not no concern from me. Injuries can happen at any given time,” Ryans said when asked about the timing of the injury with the outcome of the game decided. “What if the injury happened first play of the game? Should he be out there? We can’t control when injuries happen. Guys are going to go play.
“That’s part of our game. Part of the nature of the business. When you play this game, unfortunately, injuries happen. Nobody can predict when injuries happen or when a guy should be in, shouldn’t be in.”
After the game, Ryans downplayed the severity of the injury sustained by the former third-round draft pick from the University of Houston.
“Yeah, we’ll see how Tank goes throughout the week, but he should be fine,” Ryans said.
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Dell entered Sunday with four receptions for 37 yards through two games. He caught one pass for minus-three yards on four targets in a win last week over the Bears,
Dell caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games as a rookie last season before he broke his fibula.
With Dell potentially sidelined, the Texans have a lot of depth at a position that includes Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods and John Metchie III.
“It is hard to say, we haven’t had to deal with that this year, but we have other guys that are well-equipped,’ Stroud said. “But we love one of the best receivers in the league to be out there. Sadly, in this league, it is always next man up. We have to find a way to win a football game. We are praying for Tank, hope he is okay, and we know that hopefully he is treading up. But whatever happens. We have to be able to try to win.”
Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon remained sidelined at practice Thursday and is regarded as week to week in his recovery from a sprained ankle suffered against the Chicago Bears that sidelined him last week against the Minnesota Vikings and may keep him out Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cam Akers, who rushed for just 21 yards on nine carries for a 2.3 average per run as he started against the Vikings, is prepping to be RB1 again.
There’s growing optimism that backup running back Dameon Pierce is close to returning, per sources, as he’s making a steady recovery from a strained hamstring. Pierce has not been cleared yet to practice, though, and has missed two practices this week.
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Mixon injured his ankle on a hit from Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards that drew a $16,883 fine from the league for an illegal hip drop tackle.
Mixon’s injury isn’t regarded as a long-term issue, but is sidelined still due to a lack of ability to cut at optimal levels due to the ankle injury, according to league sources.
Defensive tackle Foley Fatukasi (shoulder) returned to practice after being given Wednesday off.
He was limited.
The following players participated fully: guard Kenyon Green (illness), center Jarrett Patterson (calf) and tight end Dalton Schultz (ankle).
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 click2houston.com.
