Tank Dell, the Houston Texans wide receiver, suffered a major knee injury late in the 2024 season and has been recovering since then. The injury was severe enough that his availability for the 2025 season has been in serious doubt.
The injury
In Week 16 of the 2024 season against the Kansas City Chiefs, Dell dislocated his left kneecap and tore multiple ligaments in his knee, including the ACL, MCL, and LCL, with additional meniscus damage. He was carted off the field, hospitalized overnight, and later underwent multiple surgeries to repair the damage.
Current status and outlook
Because of the timing and severity of the injury, reports through 2025 indicate that Dell is expected to miss most or all of the 2025 season while he continues rehab. Coverage from team and league reporters has described his progress as steady but emphasized that it is a long-term recovery before he can return to play.
Prior setbacks
This was not Dell’s first major setback in the NFL. His 2023 rookie season ended early due to a broken leg, and he also sustained a minor gunshot wound in an April 2024 shooting incident, from which he was quickly released from the hospital. These back-to-back lower-body injuries have made the early part of his career unusually difficult despite his strong on-field production when healthy.
