Texans' Tank Dell Hospitalized After Injury; WR Reportedly Has Dislocated Kneecap

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was taken to the hospital and will remain there overnight after exiting Sunday's 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a knee injury, coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters.

Ryans noted that Dell suffered a "significant knee injury," which Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported was a dislocated kneecap.

After leaving the field on a stretcher, he was quickly ruled out by the team.

The injury occurred on a 30-yard touchdown connection between Dell and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud early in the third quarter. Dell's leg appeared to get rolled up on unintentionally by teammate Jared Wayne in the back of the end zone.

Dell notably suffered a fractured fibula in 2023, as he was limited to 11 games last season.

Prior to exiting, Dell had six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. He has 51 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns on the season and forms a strong tandem with Nico Collins for Stroud while star receiver Stefon Diggs is injured.

If Dell's injury keeps him out for an extended period, the Texans receiver depth becomes even more depleted. In addition to Diggs, the Texans are also without John Metchie III as well as tight ends Dalton Keene and Cade Stover.

Houston will look to Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson and Jared Wayne to step up in Dell's absence.