Tank Dell Cleared to Return from Injury, Texans WR Missed 2025 Season After Multiple Surgeries

After missing the entire 2025 season with a significant knee injury, Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is set to return.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday the Texans released their list of players on the physically unable to perform list, and it did not include Dell.

The wide receiver's injuries from a December 2024 game against the Kansas City Chiefs included a dislocated knee, a torn ACL, a torn MCL, a torn LCL and damage to his meniscus. He underwent multiple surgeries and missed the entire next campaign.

In January, Dell offered his first public comments about his recovery process and called 2025 "the hardest year of my life," per Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle.

However, he also said, "I'm back. I feel like I'm feeling good right now. … Once the season comes, we're gonna cook up."

Avoiding the PUP list Tuesday was the next step toward a return to the field, which is excellent news for both the wide receiver and the Texans.

After all, Dell broke onto the scene in just 11 games as a rookie in 2023 with 709 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches. He then posted 667 yards and three touchdowns through the air the following year prior to his injury.

Houston struggled to replicate his lost production in the aerial attack in 2025 with Nico Collins as the only wide receiver on the team with more than 525 receiving yards. The lack of consistent playmakers on the outside was even more apparent when Collins was sidelined during the team's playoff loss to the New England Patriots.

Quarterback CJ Stroud threw four interceptions, and nobody on the team even reached the 60-yard mark through the air.

Having Dell back will give Stroud a deep threat in the aerial attack and someone who can take advantage of mismatches when defenses are focusing too much attention on Collins. He also can take some of the pressure off Collins as a dangerous No. 2 option, which could even lead to more favorable matchups for the No. 1 receiver.

Most of all, Texans fans and his teammates will surely be thrilled just to see Dell back on the field after such a difficult knee injury that required such a long recovery period.