Somehow, Tank Dell held onto the ball.
On Saturday, the Houston Texans receiver hauled in a pass in the end zone in a 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But as he grabbed it, teammate Jared Wayne was also diving for the deep ball. Wayne crashed into Dell’s left leg and it was pretty clear right away that Dell had suffered a serious leg injury.
Dell’s teammates were immediately concerned for him. Wayne and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud both appeared to be in tears as the cart came out for Dell. Stroud had to be consoled by multiple teammates right after the injury.
Hours after the game, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Dell had sustained a dislocated knee cap and that surgery is a possibility as doctors evaluate the damage.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans had previously said after the game that Dell suffered a “significant knee injury” and would stay in Kansas City overnight for further evaluation.
Stroud, also speaking after the game, said all he could really do was pray.
It’s not easy, you know what i’m saying? But after that I try to use it as motivation. It’s not easy to just let it go, especially [since] that’s my best friend. Not easy to move on and just keep playing, but I tried to do as best I could.
A year ago Dell’s rookie season was cut short when he suffered a fractured fibula. Dell was put on a stretcher and put on the cart as several teammates gathered around him. The NBC broadcast said Dell’s leg was put in a vacuum splint to stabilize his leg and he was taken straight to a hospital.
If Dell’s injury is as bad as it looked, it’s a massive blow for the Texans. The Texans already lost Stefon Diggs to a season-ending knee injury. Dell had 569 yards and two touchdowns this season. He was having a big day Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs with 98 yards and a touchdown.
The level of concern for Dell was rare, due to the severity of the injury and what he obviously means to his teammates. For a second straight year, Dell’s season has seemingly come to a premature end with a serious injury.
