Tank Dell is set to give the Texans another jolt of speed and playmaking at the exact right time.
DeMeco Ryans said Monday that the fourth-year wide receiver will return Sunday against the New York Giants, coming off Houston’s 34-31 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The announcement ends the waiting game for a fan base that had been circling this possibility since Dell’s practice window opened.
The timing lines up with what many around the team expected: Houston waited until the final week of his 21-day practice window to fully activate him. With this week marking the third since he was announced for practice activation, the decision fits the original timeline.
Dell’s return gives the Texans a receiver room with a chance to be their most dangerous of the Ryans-Stroud era. Houston will now have to sort through a collection of pass-catching talent that creates a nice problem rather than a crisis.
That group will include some combination of Dell, Harrison, Boutte and Noel, with Hutchinson likely the odd man out in the mix. The source notes that Harrison, Boutte and Noel each bring schematic value that Hutchinson does not offer right now, though Hutchinson could still have a role with Noel as part of Houston’s full-time return duo on special teams in a worst-case scenario.
However the snaps shake out, the Texans are now dealing with a deeper issue: fitting one more high-upside weapon into an offense that already ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game at 270.2 and second in net passing yards at 1,621.
For Dell, the return has been a long time coming. The former Houston Cougar had battled back to get himself available again, and Sunday should bring a warm welcome when he runs through the tunnel from Reliant Stadium.
In Other News...
Texans Special Teams Mistake Nearly Cost Them Before Halftime
Special teams had a dangerous little moment hanging over the Texans London game before halftime, when the Jaguars elected to put the kickoff in play with eight seconds left in the quarter. That kind of decision only makes sense if the return unit is confident the clock can be managed cleanly, but it also opens the door to a scramble if the return breaks well and the offense can get into range for a hurried field goal try.
For Houston, the bigger concern was how little margin there was for error once the Jaguars had their timeout situation in mind and kicker Cam Little lurking as a possible answer from distance. A clean sequence could have set up a long shot to end the half, and even one completed pass in the right spot would have changed the entire feel of the game before the break. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Have A Bigger Halftime Concern Than Their London Lead
The Texans went into halftime in London with a 17-14 lead over Jacksonville, and C.J. Stroud had done enough to keep Houston in control on the scoreboard. He completed 66.6% of his passes and found Foster Moreau twice for touchdowns, giving the offense a steady rhythm even in a game that has been tighter than the records might have suggested.
Houstons bigger concern may be on the other side of the ball, where Henry TooToo made his return from injured reserve and helped the defense stabilize, but the secondary had a rougher stretch. Safety Reed Blankenship struggled before leaving with an injury, a development that could matter more than the halftime edge if the Texans have to hold up for another full half. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Fans May Hate How This Jaguars Call Shaped The AFC South
A controversial officiating moment in London is already rippling through the AFC South race, and Texans fans have every reason to keep an eye on it. During Jacksonvilles recent game, a touchdown run by Bhayshul Tuten was wiped out by a holding flag, and an NFL insider later disputed whether the call should have stood. In a division that can swing on one possession, even a single penalty like that can feel a lot bigger than the play itself.
The Jaguars have now played back-to-back games in London, beating the Philadelphia Eagles before turning around to face Houston, and the timing of the call only adds to the frustration for anyone watching the standings. Jacksonville sits atop the AFC South, and with a bye week coming before a home date against the Indianapolis Colts, the margin for error is thin. For the Texans, and for anyone chasing the Jaguars, moments like this can linger long after the crowd has moved on. [Read more 🡒]