The Houston Texans were a trendy pick for the Super Bowl last offseason. The team acquired Stefon Diggs via trade after a promising rookie season from CJ Stroud. Head coach DeMeco Ryans showed why he is one of the premier defensive minds in the league, and that side of the ball is rich with talent. They did not have the season many expected. Stroud was constantly under pressure, and the defense suffered numerous injuries. They will likely be without one of their young stars heading into next season. Wide receiver Tank Dell is set to undergo ACL surgery today, likely knocking him out for the 2025 season.
Houston Texans Tank Dell ACL Surgery
Tank Dell suffered a gruesome injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in December. While he miraculously hung onto the pass for a touchdown, his knee bent in a way that made everyone cringe. Reports indicated the injury went beyond a simple ACL tear. He had a dislocated knee, torn ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus damage. Ryans expressed optimism on the young receiver’s recovery last week, as he was back in the building for rehab.
“He’s doing well in the process. I just start with his mindset, right? Seeing Tank around the building in the past couple of weeks just seeing a shift in his mindset –– seeing renewed energy. Seeing Tank being Tank, as everyone knows. With a smile, just excited about the recovery process. I’m excited about that part of it. That allows me to know that he’s headed in the right direction.”
Ryans made it clear that no timeline was given, and now it seems we won’t see Dell on the field in 2025. After previously undergoing surgery to repair lateral collateral and medial collateral ligaments, he now will have surgery on the ACL. In all likelihood, this will mean he is out for next year. There is always an outside chance depending on how the recovery goes, but the Houston Texans will want to be cautious. This is the second major knee injury for Dell in his young career.
2025 Outlook
The wide receiver room suddenly needs to be addressed. Nico Collins is the most underrated wide receiver in the NFL and is the clear WR1 in the offense. Diggs will likely not be back and is recovering from an ACL injury of his own. Veteran Robert Woods is also a free agent, and it remains to be seen whether the team will attempt to re-sign him or move on.
Wide receiver isn’t the only position of need. They have to fix the offensive line. Stroud was under constant pressure, and the running game suffered as a result. Joe Mixon was still able to put together a solid year, but a better line would mean a better offense. Teams have already started making moves, and the Houston Texans will need to get involved soon.
Final Thoughts
The Houston Texans entered last offseason with lots of promise. This year feels different. Last year was marred by injuries, and now they have to deal with the lasting effects of those players being out. Can the Texans make moves to get them back into contention in the AFC?
