National Football League

Texans WR Tank Dell out for season after dislocating knee, tearing ACL

Updated Dec. 23, 2024 2:09 p.m. ET

One day after being released after an overnight stay in the hospital, Houston wide receiver Tank Dell has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after dislocating a knee and tearing an ACL in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of Dell's injury Monday before announcing that he would have season-ending surgery for a second straight year. Dell fractured his fibula in Week 13 against Denver as a rookie last season and had surgery on it the following day.

"He dislocated the knee, he tore the ACL [and] other things there he’ll have to get repaired,' Ryans said of Dell, who traveled back to Houston on Sunday. "So he’ll be out for the year."

Ryans didn't have a date for Dell's surgery for this injury but said it would be soon.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans provided the update Sunday but didn’t have many details beyond his return to Houston. "Right now, we still will be evaluating to see where he is," he said. "He’s still meeting with doctors to see what’s next for him. But it is a significant knee injury."

Dell was injured on a 30-yard touchdown catch in Houston’s 27-19 loss Saturday. He was coming across the back of the end zone and made the spectacular catch on a pass from C.J. Stroud before colliding with Houston teammate Jared Wayne on the way to the ground. Dell immediately grabbed at his knee and Wayne signaled for team trainers, who spent several minutes working on the wide receiver while teammates waited anxiously.

Dell was eventually placed on a stretcher and driven in a covered medical cart off the field, and then he was taken to the hospital. Ryans then expressed appreciation to the Chiefs for caring for Dell after the injury.

"We would really like to thank the Kansas City medical team and the doctors there and their staff for being very accommodating," he said. "For helping out with Tank, giving him a room, getting him set up. I really thought those guys did a really unbelievable job. (Head athletic trainer) Rick Burkholder and his staff, they did an unbelievable job and very thankful to the entire Kansas City organization and their medical team."

Dell had six catches for 98 yards and the touchdown when he was hurt with 11:40 left in the third quarter. A third-round pick out of Houston last year, Dell ranks second on the team with 51 receptions for 667 yards and three scores.

His injury is another blow to a team that was already missing Stefon Diggs after the four-time Pro Bowl receiver sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 8.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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