A hurt Houston roster heads home for the holiday season.
The Texans might be headed to the playoffs, but they’ll be short-handed on their run following the injuries suffered in Saturday’s 27-19 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Second-year wideout Tank Dell was carted off the field with what’s been ruled a dislocated kneecap injury after hauling in a 30-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud in the third quarter.
Dell, who was on pace for his second 100-yard outing of the regular season, is expected to be out for the remainder of the year.
“We know how much he meant to this team,” Texans wide receiver Nico Collins said of Dell. “But losing one of your brothers, man, it hurts. Speedy recovery for my dog. Mentally, he’s going through it, but we have to keep stepping, keep climbing for him.”
On Houston’s first possession of the second half, Stroud found Dell at the back of the end zone to cut Kansas City’s lead to 17-16. As he went down, fellow receiver Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s lower leg.
Dell immediately grabbed his leg but otherwise barely moved. He was placed in an air cast and was lifted into the back of an ambulance for further evaluation.
After the game, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said that Dell would stay behind at the University of Kansas Hospital for further testing. Surgery has not been ruled off the table as of this moment.
“All our thoughts and prayers are with Tank right now,” Ryans said. “You guys can see what he means to our entire team.”
Dell wasn’t the only Texans player to leave early Saturday afternoon. Defensive back Jimmie Ward was carted off in the second quarter with a foot injury and did not return.
Offensive lineman Shaq Mason left on the fourth play of the opening drive with a knee injury and did not return. He’s expected to undergo an MRI once the team returns to Houston.
Here’s the snap count for every player in Saturday’s showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.
Snaps counts and stats from #Texans loss to #Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium pic.twitter.com/lG6Dn3W6CW
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 22, 2024
The Texans return home to face off against the playoff-bound Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day at 3:30 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast locally in Houston and globally as part of a two-game deal with Netflix.