5:55PM: According to an update from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Dell has suffered a dislocated knee cap. Doctors at the hospital Dell was taken to have been working the determine the extent of the damage. Surgery is reportedly on the table, but it has not happened just yet.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans told the media in his postgame interview that Dell’s injury is significant. Ryans was already aware that Dell would need to remain just over the state line in Kansas to stay the night at the University of Kansas Medical Center for further evaluation. He’ll have to rejoin the team at a later date, once stabilized.
2:35PM: The Texans know already that they are headed to the postseason by way of an AFC South title, but it looks like they may be doing so without a two key weapons in the passing game. Already short veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a season-ending ACL tear, it looks like Houston will also be without Tank Dell after the second-year wideout suffered what looked to be a serious knee injury in today’s game against the Chiefs, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. 
Dell’s injury comes as an unfortunate result of friendly fire. As Dell caught a 30-yard touchdown in the back of the endzone, practice squad call up Jared Wayne collided with his knee as he dove for the ball, thinking the pass was intended for him. Dell was able to secure the ball with one hand, while his second hand shot immediately to his left knee.
The immediate aftermath was a somber scene as carts rushed out to the endzone and Dell’s teammates huddled around. Dell’s knee was stabilized, and he was carted off the field and, eventually, transported to the hospital. A vacuum splint was used to stabilize his entire left leg. That type of splint is usually used as when a training staff is worried about severe instability or fracture.
If the injury is as serious as it appeared to be, this continues what has been an extremely unfortunate start to Dell’s career. The 25-year-old got off to a hot start as a third-round rookie out of the nearby University of Houston. His impressive rookie campaign was unfortunately cut short when he suffered a fractured fibula that required season-ending ankle surgery. Still, in only 11 games, Dell produced a commendable 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. Dell’s recovery took a crazy turn when, early in the offseason, he found himself as a victim in a public mass shooting outside a nightclub in Sanford, Florida.
The compounding injuries did not deter his recovery to the point that he missed any regular season time this year. Dell opened the season with the rest of the Texans, only missing a Week 4 contest due to a chest injury. With Nico Collins handling WR1 duties and the arrival of another star in Diggs, Dell had been operating in a reduced role this year, until Diggs suffered the season-ending injury of his own.
Coming into today, Dell had only one 100-yard receiving day and only two touchdowns on the year. Still, he was second on the team in receiving yards and third on the team in both receptions and receiving touchdowns. When Dell exited today, he was having perhaps the best game of his 2024 campaign. The play that resulted in his early exit left him with six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown on the day. He was on track to record season highs in all three categories today if he had been able to continue.
The Texans passing attack will face a tough task in replacing both Diggs and Dell in the playoffs this January. Collins will continue in his leading role, while John Metchie and Robert Woods will be asked to step up in major ways in the weeks to come.
They’ve got a couple weeks to feel out how their offense will work without Dell. While they can improve their playoff seeding with some wins and some help, they’re guaranteed a home playoff game as (at worst) the fourth seed. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team playing it extremely safe for the remainder of the season, while Dell will likely need to begin his work getting back to the field in 2025.
Dionte Johnson on line 1
He’s gotta clear waivers (above the Texans) and may not make it past the Chargers.
Ugh. He’s such a fun player to watch. I hope his career isn’t derailed by these injuries.
Tank Dell and Josh Downs are two young WRs who always put on a good show. Not sure either is going to be durable enough to have a long career though.
I mean, certainly not if teammates keep diving into their knees.
Texans should have gone out and got WR help once Diggs went down. No reason they shouldn’t have fortified the position for a playoff run.
Hopkins would have been nice to bring home.
Brought back Brandin Cooks
Taken a chance on Darius Slayton
Been in on Amari Cooper or Elijah Moore
But with their first Texans should look to take Emeka Egbuka former Stroud target at Ohio state
Figure it had to be a dislocation because they kept mentioning it being gruesome but you couldn’t really tell from replay. Even when he was laying there pointing, I think the leggings/socks being up saved viewers from seeing how bad it was. Back to back freak injuries to end his seasons sucks.
Is this guy going to be the latest “injury prone” athletes? Don’t remember the first injury but this one is bad luck. Not like he could have done anything to prep for it. Can only make the knee so strong. Hope he heals up right and has a great career as long as it doesn’t affect my Seahawks. He can just get shutdown by Riq or Spoon or probably both. Injury prone is not 2 injuries.
First one was bad luck on a bad play call. He was blocking in the middle for some reason on a goal line set.
Man, this guy can’t win. Good receiver, but seems to be brittle as a dried twig. Hopefully he comes back better than ever.