Full extent of Tank Dell’s devastating knee injury revealed

Tank Dell’s knee injury is bad enough that it could put his status in doubt for the start of the 2025 season.

The Texans’ wide receiver dislocated his kneecap and suffered a torn ACL, along with other damage, and will undergo season-ending surgery, head coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday.

Dell, 25, was injured in the Texans’ loss to the Chiefs on Saturday, a blow to the AFC South champions as they prepare for the playoffs.

In 14 games this season, Dell had 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns.

To help offset the injury, the Texans picked up Diontae Johnson, who was waived by the Ravens last week — the same team Houston will face on Christmas.

Dell’s promising rookie season last year was cut short in Week 13 when he suffered a broken leg, and the third-round pick finished with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games.

In April, Dell was wounded in a shooting at a Florida nightclub, an innocent bystander caught in crossfire that injured 10 people.

Dell suffered minor injuries and was back on the practice field three weeks later.

Quarterback CJ Stroud, a close friend of Dell’s, was in tears when the receiver was injured on Saturday.

Stroud, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, has had a bit of a tougher sophomore campaign with injuries crippling the wide receiver room; Stefon Diggs tore his ACL in October and Nico Collins missed a handful of games earlier this season with a hamstring injury.

In 15 games this season, Stroud has 3,492 yards, 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and he’s been sacked 47 times.

In 2023, Stroud had 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions while taking 38 sacks in 15 games.

Houston’s offense has, however, been aided by the signing of Joe Mixon, who has 967 yards rushing, 291 yards receiving and 12 total touchdowns.

The Texans, who currently own the No. 4 seed in the AFC, will finish the season on the road against the Titans after their Christmas date with Baltimore.