Tank Dell is back on the practice field. The Houston Texans wide receiver participated in a limited capacity on Wednesday, according to ESPN, marking his first involvement in any team practice setting since December 2024.
Dell caught passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud during individual drills and ran full-speed routes before his work concluded for the morning, ESPN Texans reporter DJ Bien-Aime reported. It wasn’t a full practice. It was a limited session. But after nearly two years away from football, it counted as a real step.
What DeMeco Ryans Said About Dell’s Progress
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans addressed Dell’s status Wednesday, and his message was steady, not rushed.
“Tank is on the right plan,” Ryans said, per ESPN. “Nothing’s changed in his plan. We’re progressing him on really well. We expect him to just continue to progress with how he’s feeling.”
Ryans made clear the team isn’t working off a fixed calendar. Dell’s body sets the pace.
“There’s no set way of doing it,” Ryans said. “It’ll be based on how he’s feeling. We’ll do the right thing by Tank and make sure we approach it the right way. Take care of him the right way, so he can be feeling confident when he steps back out there for team drills.”
The Injury That Cost Dell an Entire Season
Dell’s absence traces back to Houston’s Week 16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in December 2024. He suffered a dislocated kneecap along with torn ACL, MCL and LCL ligaments and meniscus damage on the play, an injury that required multiple surgeries and wiped out his entire 2025 season, according to ESPN.
The Texans took a deliberate approach to his recovery all offseason. He avoided the team’s PUP list when it was released ahead of training camp, clearing him to eventually work into full team drills, though Wednesday’s session was still labeled limited participation.
Dell’s Numbers and Houston’s Crowded Receiver Room
In 25 career games with the Texans, Dell has caught 98 passes for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns, building a reputation as a home run threat opposite Nico Collins despite his smaller frame. His chemistry with Stroud, a fellow member of the Texans’ 2023 draft class, has been part of that story since both arrived in Houston.
The receiver room Dell is stepping back into looks different than the one he left. Houston used its 2025 draft capital on Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, and Xavier Hutchinson has carved out a role too. That depth means Dell’s path back to significant snaps isn’t guaranteed, even if his health checks out.
| Receiver | Role | 2025 Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nico Collins | WR1 | Lead target for Stroud |
| Jayden Higgins | WR2/3 | 2025 second-round pick |
| Jaylin Noel | WR2/3 | 2025 third-round pick |
| Xavier Hutchinson | Depth/rotational | Returning contributor |
If Dell continues progressing without setbacks, he’s positioned to work into that rotation as the season nears. Nothing about Wednesday’s session guarantees a Week 1 role — but for a player who spent 2025 rehabbing instead of playing, catching passes from Stroud again was the news itself.
This is a developing story. The Texans have not set a target date for Dell’s return to full team drills.
