Wide receiver Tank Dell was seriously injured while making a touchdown catch against the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach DeMeco Ryans has now confirmed that the Houston Texans pass receiver has dislocated his kneecap.

Tank Dell’s fears have been confirmed as far as the severity of the injury is concerned. The Houston Texans wide receiver’s left patella has popped out, as head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed to reporters on Monday.

He also has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and other injuries, as reported by NFL Network NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. Dell is now scheduled to undergo surgery and faces a long recovery. As the expert further reports, the wide receiver could be out for so long that he will also miss the beginning of the next season.

The injury happened when Dell caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback CJ Stroud for a touchdown to make it 16:17 in the third quarter of the NFL game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But after the catch, Dell remained on the ground and held onto his knee. The reason: During the touchdown, Dell’s left leg was trapped under his teammate Jared Wayne. In the slow-motion replays, it was clear how his left knee was bent at an unnatural angle.
While Dell was being treated at the end zone, his teammates gathered around the 25-year-old to pray for him. Quarterback C.J. Stroud broke down in tears.

Dell was taken from the stadium interior in a cart and eventually to a clinic. According to NBC, his entire leg was placed in an air-cast splint, which is used in particular for suspected fractures and severe knee injuries.

Initial diagnosis: surgery is a possibility

As head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed shortly after the game in a press conference, Dell remained in the hospital in Kansas City overnight.

Last season, he had to end his season prematurely after suffering a broken fibula on game day 13.

An amazing, acrobatic catch from Tank Dell, followed by the cart coming out for a knee injury. Emotional scene on the field. pic.twitter.com/zv1WF1grdr

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2024