Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell reportedly tore multiple ligaments and suffered meniscus damage in his injured left knee, in addition to the damage previously noted.
On Monday, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters that Dell had torn the ACL in his dislocated left knee.
“He dislocated his knee, he tore his ACL, and a number of other things he’s going to have to get repaired. So he will be out for a year. Difficult news.”
On Tuesday, Texas reporter Aaron Wilson revealed the “other” damage Ryans alluded to. According to Wilson, Dell also tore the LCL and MCL in his left knee, in addition to suffering meniscus damage. Wilson’s report also made it clear that Dell dislocated his entire knee, not just his kneecap.
It’s a devastating injury for the second-year receiver, whose rookie season was cut short by a broken fibula. Dell suffered the broken fibula in 11 games during his breakout rookie campaign in 2023, ending his season in Week 13.
Dell was then shot in one of the legs as a bystander at a mass shooting in Florida in April. He suffered a minor injury during the shooting and was able to compete in Texas OTAs three weeks later.
Dell recovered from the broken fibula and gunshot wound in time to suit up for the Texans for Week 1 this season. He played 14 games before suffering a knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.
Dell hauled in a deep pass from quarterback CJ Stroud in the end zone. At the same time, his teammate Jared Wayne dove for the ball. While Dell was restraining it, Wayne accidentally bumped into Dell’s left knee, causing the injury. Dell held on to the 30-yard touchdown ball for his final catch of the season in Kansas City’s 27-19 victory.
Dell was in immediate and obvious pain and eventually had to be wheeled off the field on a stretcher after being placed on a stretcher. It led to an emotional scene at Arrowhead Stadium, leaving Stroud in tears.
Dell was taken directly to a hospital in Kansas City, where he stayed overnight before returning to Houston on Sunday. Dell finished Sunday’s game with six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. He finishes his season with 51 catches for 667 yards with three touchdowns.
A timetable for Dell’s return to health and the field is not immediately clear. But he faces a difficult recovery after suffering a second serious on-field leg injury in two NFL seasons.
