KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Houston Texans wideout Tank Dell was carted off the sphere with what coach DeMeco Ryans later known as a “vital” knee damage after he caught a landing cross from quarterback C.J. Stroud within the third quarter of Saturday’s 27-19 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Dell was taken to College of Kansas Hospital, a Degree 1 trauma heart about 12 miles from Arrowhead Stadium.
A supply informed ESPN that Dell dislocated his kneecap, confirming an NFL Community report. Another potential accidents to the knee weren’t instantly recognized.
Ryans mentioned Dell would stay on the hospital in a single day for additional analysis.
“All our ideas and prayers are with Tank proper now,” Ryans mentioned. “You guys can see what he means to our complete workforce.”
On the Texans’ first possession of the second half, Stroud threw a 30-yard landing cross to Dell to chop Kansas Metropolis’s result in 17-16. However on the reception, Houston wideout Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s decrease leg deep ultimately zone, and Dell instantly grabbed his leg however in any other case barely moved.
The Texans hovered round Dell and some gamers broke into tears earlier than his leg was positioned in an air solid and he was lifted into the again of the cart. The second-year wideout out of Houston was enjoying a serious position in opposition to the Chiefs, as he had a team-high 98 yards on seven catches with the landing.
“It hurts to see him go down like that,” Ryans mentioned. “He was having a incredible sport.”
Houston had three possessions after Dell was harm and scored solely three factors. The unit obtained the ball with 5:13 left and trailing 27-19, however after two damaging performs, Stroud was sacked on third down, resulting in a punt. The Chiefs’ offense subsequently picked up a number of first downs and ran out the clock.
Stroud, who shed tears after the damage, despatched out his prayers to Dell postgame.
“It isn’t straightforward seeing your brother go down like that,” Stroud mentioned. “I am simply tore up.
“However on the identical time, I obtained to be robust for him. For something, whether or not it goes left or proper, up or down, I’ve to reward my Lord and savior. It isn’t straightforward, however after [the injury], I attempt to use it as motivation; it isn’t straightforward to only let it go. That is my finest good friend. It isn’t straightforward to maneuver on and simply hold enjoying. I attempted to do one of the best that I might. My teammates helped me up, Joe [Mixon] helped me up and Dalton [Schultz]. I respect the blokes simply speaking to me as a result of I used to be going by way of it.”
Texans wideout Nico Collins, who completed with seven catches for 60 yards, struggled to seek out phrases to precise his feelings postgame.
“That s— hurts. It hurts. We all know how a lot he meant to this workforce,” Collins mentioned of Dell. “However dropping one in all your brothers, man, it hurts. Speedy restoration for my canine. Mentally, he is going by way of it, however we’ve got to maintain stepping, hold climbing for him.”
Dell’s rookie season in 2023 was reduce quick after he suffered a damaged leg in an early-December sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos. In late April, he was shot at a non-public occasion in Sanford, Florida, the place authorities mentioned a teenage gunman injured 10 individuals after an altercation. Dell’s wound was minor, and he was launched from the hospital shortly after the taking pictures.
Dell has 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Dell’s damage was the third main decrease leg damage for the Texans on the afternoon. Guard Shaq Mason suffered a knee damage throughout a pileup within the first quarter. He limped off however was dominated out shortly afterward. Security Jimmie Ward injured a foot within the second quarter and was carted off.
The Texans have solely three full days to recuperate from the loss, as they’ll host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
