Tank Dell Suffers Dislocated Knee Cap in Loss

The Texans are leaving Kansas City in rough shape, having lost the game 27-19, in addition to losing second-year receiver Tank Dell to what has been reported as a dislocated knee cap. Dell left the game after hauling in a touchdown pass from QB C.J. Stroud early in the third quarter. He ended up leading the Texans in receiving despite missing an entire quarter, with six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. Shortly after Dell left the game, things started to stagnate for the Houston offense, as the team failed to score any points outside of a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal early in the fourth quarter. Fairbairn’s field goal marked the sole possession during which the Texans were able to advance the ball without Dell, with their other two drives resulting in three-and-outs.

Dell has built a strong rapport with QB C.J. Stroud, who reportedly campaigned hard for the Texans to draft the University of Houston product in the 2023 draft. The two are close, as evidenced by Stroud's distraught reaction to his teammate's injury. This duo has amassed over 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns in their two years together, and they were looking to add a potential postseason run to their accomplishments. Unfortunately, circumstances have taken a much more dire turn, with Dell being transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center, which heavily implies the severity of the injury.

With Tank now out for what can be assumed to be the rest of the season, the Texans will have to find a way to be productive on offense. C.J. Stroud, in particular, has to be better and can’t put his team in harm's way with turnovers like he did in Kansas City. His two turnovers directly resulted in 10 Chiefs points, a differential that would have kept Houston in the game had they not happened. That said, the attention today should be on their teammate, one who suffered a traumatic injury on a play that should have been met with joy and excitement. More news will be released in the coming days regarding the detailed severity of the injury; however, until and beyond then, we must send our support and well wishes for Tank's speedy recovery as he fights to come back better than ever.