Texans’ WR undergoes first surgery

On January 19, 2025By Littum

The Houston Texas is headed back to Kansas City for a playoff showdown with chiefsbut they will do so without a favored target for CJ Stroud.

Think Dell’s the season ended during their last meeting on Dec. 21, also in Kansas City, when the receiver suffered a serious knee injury. It’s been a slow process for Dell: The receiver finally underwent surgery nearly a month after the injury, leaving a long road to recovery. He gave an update this week prior Texans‘ divisional round play.

Already without Stephen Diggsafter the season ended thanks to a torn ACL, Houston may have a problem this weekend with their thin receiving depth against a step up in the competition.

Here’s the latest on Dell and his recovery.

Dell underwent his first of several surgeries on Wednesday, nearly a month after suffering the significant knee injury against the Chiefs in Week 16.

The receiver dislocated his knee and damaged his meniscus in addition to having a torn ACL, MCL and LCL after a collision in the end zone with a teammate, Jared Wayne.

He faces a long road back, one that is expected to keep him out through the 2025 season given the extent of the injuries and multiple surgeries required to repair the damage.

The second-year player hasn’t lived a charmed NFL life to this point, with both seasons ending earlier than expected. Ironically, both instances came as a result of friendly fire. In 2023, Dell’s season was ended with a broken fibula after being caught in a pileup around the goal line.

Dell, an innocent bystander, was then the victim of a shooting in Florida in April 2024 that left him with a flesh wound.

Texans WR depth chart

Without Diggs and Dell, Houston is still thin at receiver for their divisional round game against the Chiefs in Kansas City. The team added those traveled Diontae Johnson after Ravens released him, but Houston ultimately decided to move on after the wild-card round. Here’s a look at their remaining receivers after cutting Johnson:

Tank Dell statistics

Dell’s production took a step back in 2024, as did most of the Texans’ offense. The receiver was still effective, but to a lesser extent after Diggs’ arrival.

In 25 career games played, he has recorded 98 receptions, 1,376 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.