Tank Dell gave the Texans exactly the kind of jolt they were hoping to see on Sunday, and he did it in a big way against the Los Angeles Chargers.
C.J. Stroud to Tank Dell for the TD 🗣️
— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2026
HOUvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/r0q9mBmr5d
With Houston working with a slim 10-9 lead and less than five minutes left in the second quarter, C.J. Stroud dropped a 63-yard touchdown strike down the right sideline to Dell. It was the kind of explosive connection that instantly changes the feel of a game, and it came at a time when Houston was trying to keep control before halftime.
By the break, the Texans had stretched that edge to 24-9 over the winless Chargers, and Dell was already making his presence felt in a major way. In the first half, he hauled in two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown on four targets.
That production comes with a bigger backdrop, too. Dell returned for Houston last week and is still working his way back after missing nearly two years of game action because of a severe leg injury in December of 2024. The signs are clearly encouraging, and the Texans are seeing him become more comfortable by the week.
Before Week 9, head coach DeMeco Ryans said “we’ll see more” of Dell, and he expanded on that idea when asked about the receiver’s workload.
“Tank, this is his second week now playing,” Ryans said, via Sports Illustrated. “So, I think his reps will just increase with his workload. He’s put a lot of work in on the side, and it’s just a natural progression of an increase in his workload.”
Houston now has a chance to keep building momentum and move to 3-5 with a win over Los Angeles. And with Dell getting healthier and more involved, the Texans’ offense is only adding another dangerous layer as they turn toward their next game on Nov. 15 against the Cleveland Browns.
In Other News...
Kamari Lassiter Gets A Big Chance To Quiet A Texans Concern
Kamari Lassiters first season has not been as clean as the Texans would have hoped, with the cornerback giving up 1.6 yards per coverage snap, a mark that sits above the league average for his position. For a defense that wants steady play on the back end, that has made his development a point to watch, especially as Houston looks for more consistency from its young secondary.
A matchup with the Chargers offers a timely chance to change the tone. Los Angeles has been uneven on offense, and that gives Lassiter a shot to settle in, stack a stronger game and maybe even come away with a momentum-shifting takeaway. For Houston, a confident outing from Lassiter would do more than quiet a concern. It would give the Texans another piece they can trust as the defense tries to keep tightening up. [Read more 🡒]
Fairbairn Gives Texans One Advantage Chargers Really Need To Worry About
Kaimi Fairbairns October has given Houston a quiet but meaningful edge, and it comes at a time when every possession matters. The Texans kicker has been perfect on his field goal attempts this month, including a couple from long range, and the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month award only underscores how steady he has been for an offense that can now lean on him with real confidence.
For Houstons offensive coordinator, that reliability changes the calculus on third down. It opens the door to more aggressive play-calling, knowing drives do not have to end in touchdowns to still produce points, and that matters against a Chargers team dealing with its own offensive struggles. With both clubs trying to sort out their place in the standings, Fairbairns leg is one more thing the Texans can use to tilt the game plan in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Inactives Bring One Lineup Twist Fans Will Notice Fast
The Texans Week 9 inactive list brought one lineup wrinkle that stands out right away, with rookie tight end Marlin Klein active for the first time since Week 3. Houston will be without injured players David Montgomery and Reed Blankenship, and Braden Smith is also sitting out as a healthy scratch, leaving the game-day picture a little thinner in a few spots as the team gets set for the Chargers.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, arrives with a much cleaner availability report. The Chargers listed no surprise absences and will have all of their top starters available, which adds a little more pressure on Houston to make the most of the pieces it does have in uniform. [Read more 🡒]