Texans WR Tank Dell addresses recovery from brutal injury

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell hasn't played in a meaningful game since he went down with a gruesome knee injury in December 2024. 

On Wednesday, Dell offered his first public comments amid his recovery from that devastating setback.

Tank Dell vows to be ready to "cook up" next season

"What I've been through is something that taught me to be humble and just keep working," Dell said, per Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle. "But I'm back. I feel like I'm feeling good right now…Once the season comes, we're gonna cook up."

On Dec. 21, 2024, Dell suffered a dislocated knee, a torn ACL, torn MCL, torn LCL and meniscus damage that left him needing multiple surgeries and kept him sidelined from Week 1 of the 2025 regular season through Houston's divisional-round playoff loss to the New England Patriots. 

On Wednesday, he acknowledged that he is coming off "the hardest year" of his life.

"I’ve been playing football since I was five, and that was the first year I’ve ever had to sit out from football," Dell continued. "That was hard." 

ESPN stats show that Dell ended the 2024 regular season ranked third on the Texans with 51 receptions, third with 81 targets and second with 667 receiving yards. He tallied three receiving scores over 14 games. 

Of course, it's far too early to say what Dell will and won't be the next time he takes the field against a live defense later this year.

Tank Dell voices passionate support for quarterback C.J. Stroud

Meanwhile, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has become a subject of criticism after he produced a pair of poor playoff performances. Dell sounds confident that he will be able to help Stroud eventually silence doubters. 

"People can say what they want about [Stroud]," Dell explained. "That’s just them sitting there on their couches, typing on their computers, typing on their phones. But everybody knows who [Stroud] is, especially in the facility. We know who he is. When we get back out there with him, it’s gonna be special. So, we can let them say what they want."