Texans will continue playoff chase without star rookie WR Tank Dell

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans escaped with a win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

But the victory came with a steep price as star rookie receiver Tank Dell sustained a broken fibula that ended his season.

Coach DeMeco Ryans said that Dell had surgery Monday and they expect him to be ready to return by the start of Houston’s offseason program.

The diminutive Dell was injured when he got rolled up on a touchdown run by Dameon Pierce in the first quarter of the 22-17 victory Sunday. With Dell out, Nico Collins led the offense, piling up a career-high 191 yards receiving with a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Now the Texans must find a way to make up for the loss of the Dell, who ranks second on the team with 709 yards receiving and who leads the Texans with a franchise rookie record seven touchdown receptions.

“Nobody replaces Tank, but everybody around him just has to step up and just do their part — be their best in whatever role, whatever area we ask them to,” Ryans said. “We just ask them to be their best. It takes everyone. When you lose a guy who brings that emotional lift to your team, it’s going to take everyone to dig a little deeper and pick it up and do a little bit better.”

Quarterback C.J. Stroud choked back tears when he spoke about Dell’s injury Sunday. The pair had become close friends, bonding from the moment both were drafted this April.

“I try to be positive about it, but it’s tough,” Stroud said. “I’m hurt. I can’t sugarcoat it.”

Stroud had another strong game Sunday, throwing for 274 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. His performance came after he was the AFC Offensive Player of the Month and NFL Rookie of the Month for November after throwing for 1,466 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions last month.

Despite his success, he’s still looking to do much more to help the Texans return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

“I’m blessed to be able to be playing at a high level, and I want to keep that going,” he said. “I really don’t think I’ve even touched my potential yet. I still have things I need to clean up every week.”