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Texans WR Tank Dell Ruled Out After Suffering Knee Injury on TD Catch vs. Chiefs

Houston's second-year receiver was carted off the field in the third quarter.

Tom Dierberger

Dell suffered a knee injury while making a 30-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
Dell suffered a knee injury while making a 30-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. / NBC Sports
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The Houston Texans will be without receiver Tank Dell for the rest of their Week 16 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs—and likely for much longer.

Dell was ruled out for the game after sustaining a serious knee injury while making an incredible 30-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter. He absorbed a heavy hit on the catch while he was sandwiched between Kansas City defensive back Trent McDuffie and fellow Texans receiver Jared Wayne as he fell to the ground.

"They stabilized his entire left leg in a vacuum splint, which is used when there's concern with severe instability or fracture," reporter Kathryn Tappen said on the broadcast. "The splint is used to stabilize from the hip to the foot. He was taken in an ambulance to University of Kansas hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, which is located 12 miles from Arrowhead."

Dell immediately grabbed his knee in pain. He stayed on the grass for several minutes and was eventually carted off the field. NBC play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle said the broadcast was restraining from showing certain angles of the catch because his injury appeared to be so gruesome.

Dell has been through a lot since he was selected by Houston in the third round in the 2023 NFL draft. He suffered a season-ending fractured fibula in Week 13 of his rookie season and was wounded in a shooting in April. Dell returned to the field in time for the 2024 season opener and had racked up 45 catches for 569 yards entering Saturday's game against the Chiefs.

The Texans have dealt with injuries to their top three receivers this season. Stefon Diggs is out for the year after tearing his ACL in October, Nico Collins missed five weeks due to a hamstring issue, and now it appears that Dell will be out for a while.

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Tom Dierberger
TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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