'I'm Good!' Can Healthy Rookie Tank Dell Be Difference-Maker in Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos?

'I'm Good!' Can Healthy Rookie Tank Dell Be Difference-Maker in Houston Texans vs. Denver Broncos?

The Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos both enter NFL Week 13 Sunday with surprisingly good 6-5 records - with both teams just on the other side of the glass when it comes to the AFC playoff picture.

Could rookie Tank Dell be fast enough to run through that glass?

“Yeah, I feel good, I’m good,” Dell said late this week after undergoing an MRI on his sore calf. “We're ready.''

Dell, at 24, is showing some impressive maturity here as he breaks down the opponent, citing Denver as a "pretty exciting team; they’re on a five-game winning streak. Their defense been doing great, so just going to bring up a challenge for us offensively and defensively.''

But so far this year, Dell, the third-round draft pick from the University of Houston, has met most every challenge. He's caught 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. Overall, he's on pace to finish the season with 73 catches, 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns - the sort of newcomer numbers that echo memories of Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins.

Andre on Tank Dell: 'Damn, Where's This Kid From!?'

He's done all of this while teaming with fellow rookie C.J. Stroud at quarterback, who on Sunday will not have the services of injured veteran tight end Dalton Schultz (40 catches, 455 yards and five TDs), who has been officially ruled out.

Who steps up? Brevin Jordan will be the first-string tight end, Noah Brown is coming back from injury at receiver to help Nico Collins (50 catches, 800 yards and five TDs) and of course there are other positions that can help, including Devin Singletary as an all-purpose back. But in terms of combating Russell Wilson and the "exciting'' Broncos at NRG Stadium?

It might take one of the NFL's newest and most "exciting'' players in Tank Dell to counter.