Texans HC confirms devastating injury for rookie WR

When the Texans drafted Dell in the third round out of Houston, they hoped he and second-overall pick C.J. Stroud would eventually develop into one of the most dynamic offensive duos in the NFL. 

Nobody expected it to happen so quickly. 

In 10 games before getting carted off the field in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, Dell tallied 709 receiving yards and snagged seven touchdowns on 47 receptions while helping Houston to one of the most surprising records in the National Football League this year.

That major production will be hard for the 7-5 Texans to replace, but perhaps an even bigger impact could be made on the locker room. 

"You see your brother put in so much work and go out like that...the game of football is tough man," Stroud told the media after the game on Sunday.

"Tank as a person, I know it's going to be tough for him. But who knows, he may be back when we're playing for the Super Bowl. I'm trying to be positive about it, but I'm hurt."

Despite the major blow, Houston still found a way to beat Russell Wilson and the red-hot Denver Broncos, 22-17 — thanks in large part to the 191 yards and two touchdowns from fellow breakout star Nico Collins — and are just a head-to-head tie-breaker with the Colts away from a spot in the postseason. 

The Texans' schedule is favorable for them to win the majority — if not all — of their remaining games. If they do, Houston would likely become one of the most surprising playoff teams in recent history.

In Houston's 3-13-1 2022 season, they finished with the second-fewest yards per game in the NFL and the third-fewest points. This year (with a rookie QB and head coach), Houston has the sixth-most yards and top-10 in points-per-game. 

Before Week 18's regular-season finale against Indianapolis, Houston plays the last-place Tennessee Titans twice to go with contests against the QB-barren franchises of the Jets and Browns. 

If Stroud can pass the tall tests that the New York and Cleveland defenses will pose for him; not only will he carry Houston to the playoffs, he'll lock up the Offensive Rookie of the Year award as well.