HOUSTON – As C.J. Stroud breaks the huddle on Christmas against the Baltimore Ravens’ defense, the Texans quarterback will be missing something dynamic on an offense in dire need of another playmaker.
Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is out for the season after suffering a devastating knee injury that includes a dislocation of the entire knee, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a torn medial collateral ligament, a torn lateral collateral ligament and meniscus damage, according to league sources.
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Now, the Texans have to face the Ravens’ stout defense and compete in the playoffs without Dell. Dell is one of the most explosive wide receivers in the league and was in the midst of his top performance of the season when he got hurt while catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
How the Texans adapt to losing Dell will be instructive. Of course, targets will increase for star wide receiver Nico Collins. He leads the Texans with 60 catches for 909 yards and six touchdowns. For an offense already missing Stefon Diggs due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, they need someone else to contribute. While Diontae Johnson, claimed off waivers from the Ravens won’t help them Wednesday, he could starting next week against the Tennessee Titans and in the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Texans will involve John Metchie III, Robert Woods and Xavier Hutchinson as well as more throws likely for tight end Dalton Schultz.
“You can’t replace a Tank Dell,” Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “You can’t replace a Stefon Diggs, you can’t replace a Brevin Jordan. Each of them brings things that make them special. I think Tank has a lot of things in football that make him special, and he was showing them on Saturday against the Chiefs. We don’t ever really approach it that way:
“How do we replace, how do we do the same things. It’s always an individual and week-to-week basis. What does everyone on our current roster going into this game do well? How do we excel at putting them in those positions so that they can excel and really amplify their strengths.”
Metchie’s contributions provided a spark in a loss to the Detroit Lions. He set career-highs with five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown on six targets. For the season, he has 17 catches for 182 yards and one score and is back this week from a shoulder injury.
Metchie primarily operates out of the slot, so he’s regarded as the primary replacement for Dell.
“I feel good, I feel ready to go,” Metchie said. “Ready to attack the week. I think everybody is hurting, but you have to find a way to use everything for fuel. Whether it’s good or bad, you have to find a way to let it add to the fire. Not that we need extra motivation, but I think that pain that everybody feels with losing our brother, Tank ,going down the way he did, that’s just extra fuel to the fire for us.”
'I'm ready to go' #Texans wide receiver John Metchie III said @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/O1pjizr0kH
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 23, 2024
Hutchison has been lightly utilized with nine catches for 91 yards on 20 targets.
“I think we’re all ready, 100% ready,” Hutchinson said. “You never want it to come like this, for your opportunity to get called with a major injury. Epecially with something like what happened to Tank, but we’re all ready to step in and do our part and just lead this team to a victory and hopefully, in the future, great success in the postseason.”
Woods will fill in on punt returns for Dell, who was delivering some good plays on special teams.
Woods has 16 catches for 143 yards on 25 targets.
“Tough losing Tank, one of our most explosive players, but we’ll focus on making plays and create separation,” Woods said. “I think the ball has to spread around a lot more. We’ve just got to get everybody involved whether it’s downfield, mid game, short, intermediate. We’ve got playmakers all around capable of making plays.”
'You can't replace a Tank Dell just like you can't replace a Stefon Diggs' #Texans OC Bobby Slowik said @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/icZIGxddXK
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 23, 2024
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, whose season has been affected by the injuries to Dell, Diggs and Collins, who missed five games with a hamstring pull, has passed for 3,492 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
He expects the wide receivers to simply be their authentic selves. Jared Wayne was activated from the practice squad.
“Just being themselves,” Stroud said. “They have the talents that God put in them for a reason. And this is another opportunity for them to go show and prove it. So, I think they’ll do that and I’m excited to see. I think you all have seen it. You all have seen it time and time again of Metch showing up, Hutch showing up.
“J. Wayne going in there blocking and doing his thing. And I think those guys have another opportunity to show who they are and I know that they can do it. I see them in practice do it every week. So, I’m excited for them and it’s a good opportunity for them to step up.”
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Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston
