Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell reportedly tore multiple ligaments and sustained meniscus damage in his injured left knee in addition to damage that’s been previously noted.
On Monday, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters that Dell tore the ACL in his dislocated left knee.
“He dislocated his knee, he tore his ACL, and some other things there he will have to get repaired. So, he’ll be out for the year. Tough news.”
On Tuesday, Texans beat reporter Aaron Wilson revealed the “other” damage that Ryans alluded to. Per Wilson, Dell also tore the LCL and MCL in his left knee in addition to sustaining meniscus damage. Wilson’s report also clarified that Dell dislocated his entire knee, not just his kneecap.
It’s a devastating injury for the second-year receiver, whose rookie season was cut short by a fractured fibula. Dell sustained the fractured fibula 11 games into his breakout rookie campaign in 2023, ending his season in Week 13.
Dell was then shot in one of his legs as a bystander at a mass shooting in Florida in April. He sustained a minor injury in the shooting and was able to participate in Texans OTAs three weeks later.
Dell recovered from the fractured fibula and gunshot wound in time to suit up for the Texans for Week 1 this season. He played 14 games before suffering his knee injury on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dell hauled in a deep pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud in the end zone. At the same time, his teammate Jared Wayne dove for the ball. As Dell corralled it, Wayne inadvertently crashed into Dell’s left knee, causing the injury. Dell held on to the 30-yard touchdown ball for his last catch of the season in Kansas City’s 27-19 win.
Dell was in immediate and obvious pain and ultimately had to be driven off the field on the back of a truck after being placed on a stretcher. It led to an emotional scene at Arrowhead Stadium that left Stroud in tears.
Dell was taken directly to a Kansas City hospital, where he remained overnight before returning home to Houston on Sunday. Dell finished Sunday’s game with six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. He finishes his season with 51 catches for 667 yards with three touchdowns.
A timetable for Dell’s return to health and the field is not immediately clear. But he’s in for an arduous recovery after a second significant on-field leg injury in two NFL seasons.
