Tank Dell, the Houston Texans' young wide receiver, sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 of this year’s NFL season. With his health back in focus, can Dell's tenacity and resilience enable him recover stronger than ever, or will his injuries define the rest of his career? From gunshot wound to dislocated knee, read the full story of Tank Dell’s health history. 

Tank Dell, an upcoming wide receiver for the Houston Texans, sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 of the NFL Season.

The Tank Dell injury occurred in the Week 16 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite Houston's clinched AFC South title and postseason berth, the game became secondary when Dell collided with a teammate in the end zone after collecting a ball from quarterback C.J. Stroud. While his teammate applauded, Dell instantly clutched his knee, triggering an emergency need for medical attention. 

Dell was soon hauled off the pitch and rushed to a nearby hospital, where additional examination showed the severity of his injury: a dislocated kneecap, ruptured ACL, LCL, MCL, and meniscus damage.

Dell has suffered another severe injury and is expected to have knee surgery. The severity of the injury has caused concerns about his recovery, with experts predicting that Dell will not be ready for the 2025 season opener.

A Career Shaped by Setbacks

Dell's injury problems began much before his most recent knee injury. During his undergraduate career, Tank Dell developed a hip pointer in 2018 that sidelined him for seven games.
 

Dell sustained a concussion in Week 5 of his debut season, forcing him to miss one game. However, his most serious injury occurred in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, when a goal-line play resulted in a fractured fibula. That injury sidelined him for the remainder of his rookie season.

In April of the following season, he was shot in the leg. Fortunately, the damage was minimal, with the bullet exiting the front of his thigh, and he was able to fully recuperate in time to play in the 2024 season opener. 

The impact of Tank Dell Injury in 2025

Tank Dell's recuperation will now be hampered by the current injury. The Texans' standout receiver missed the rest of the 2024 season, including the playoffs, while undergoing a lengthy recovery process. The prognosis for his recuperation is questionable, with reports indicating that he may not be ready to return for the 2025 season opener.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Dell's recuperation timeframe might last until 2025, with the chance of missing the entire season. Given the severity of the injury, including ligament damage, this is a major concern for Dell and the Texans, who will have to adapt their plans without one of their top receivers.