No one was celebrating after Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell’s potential tying touchdown against the Chiefs. They were too busy mourning his apparent devastating lower-leg injury.
Houston pulled within one in its Week 16 game against Kansas City, 17-16, on Dell’s 30-yard touchdown on a pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud early in the third quarter, but Dell’s injury quickly overshadowed it.
While falling, Texans wideout Jared Wayne hit Dell in the lower leg as he caught the pass in the end zone, and the second-year pro quickly grabbed at his left knee while he lay on the turf.
Stroud was visibly emotional as medical personnel tended to Dell, who was taken off the field on a stretcher. And how could Stroud not be?
Dell battled back from a broken leg in early December 2023 and entered Week 16 with 45 receptions, 569 yards and two touchdowns.
Before Dell’s injury, he had a team-high six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown.
He was on track for his second 100-yard game of the season and first since Week 9 against the Jets (six receptions, 126 yards).
To make matters worse, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the extra point, his first since last season. He was a perfect 31-of-31 on extra points entering Saturday.
On Friday, KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson spoke with Dell about his lofty goals for himself.
“I know what I’m capable of. I feel like I can play much better,” Dell said, via NFL.com.
He was finally hitting his stride — just as the Texans (9-5), who have clinched the AFC South — gear up for the playoffs.
That’s what makes his injury hurt the most.
