Tank Dell’s return to practice gave the Texans something to smile about this week, but Houston’s biggest priority heading into Sunday is staring them right in the face: keep riding C.J. Stroud.
The Texans are 0-4, the Titans are 0-4, and Sunday at Nissan Stadium gives Houston a chance to stop the slide in an AFC South matchup that already feels loaded with urgency. Dell being back on the field matters. It just shouldn’t take attention away from the more immediate truth - Stroud is already cooking, Nico Collins is back to stretching defenses, and the Texans finally flashed the kind of passing game that can actually carry them.
Houston opened Dell’s 21-day practice window Tuesday, Oct. 6, along with tackle Braden Smith and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. DeMeco Ryans said the team would wait to see how each player gets through the first week of practice before deciding anything for Sunday. Dell was limited Wednesday and again Thursday with his knee, which is a positive step, but not a reason to rush the process.
Dell has not played a regular-season game since suffering a severe knee injury in December 2024. The Texans have three weeks to evaluate him once that practice window opens, and there is no football reason to force his comeback into an October divisional game, even one this important. The best outcome is Dell getting back healthy, not Dell becoming a hurried storyline.
What Houston can’t afford to miss is how well Stroud has been throwing the ball.
Even with the Texans sitting at 0-4, Stroud has put together a strong start to the season: 1,141 passing yards, five touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 65.7% completion rate. He’s taken 12 sacks and still owns a 95.9 passer rating. Then he turned in his best outing yet against Dallas, throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns in the 34-30 loss while repeatedly pushing the ball downfield and helping Houston reclaim the lead late in the fourth quarter.
That’s the version of the offense Houston should lean into, not reset simply because Dell is nearing a return.
Collins’ comeback against Dallas only sharpened that point. After missing two games with a hamstring injury, he immediately restored the vertical element Houston had been missing.
Through two games this season, Collins has 14 catches for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Dalton Schultz has added 21 receptions for 214 yards, and the Texans also got useful work from Jaylin Noel, Kayshon Boutte and Xavier Hutchinson against Dallas.
Add Dell to that mix later, and the ceiling gets a lot higher.
Collins can draw coverage outside. Dell can stress defenses vertically and in traffic.
Noel can settle into a more natural role instead of being stretched too far. Schultz can keep working the middle of the field.
It’s a better-looking passing game on paper and, based on what Houston showed against Dallas, one that could be hard to live with if the pieces keep coming together.
But Sunday doesn’t require the finished product.
The Texans’ more immediate concern may be keeping Stroud upright. Thursday’s injury report listed tackles Aireontae Ersery and Blake Fisher and guard Ed Ingram as nonparticipants because of illness.
Anderson went from missing Wednesday with an ankle injury to limited Thursday, while Al-Shaair stayed limited with a groin injury. On the other side, Jeffery Simmons moved from a Wednesday absence to limited work Thursday because of his back injury.
That matters because Tennessee’s defensive front can still cause trouble, even with the Titans’ offense struggling. Houston can’t let protection issues wipe out another strong day from Stroud.
The numbers around this game tell the story. Tennessee is averaging 13.8 points per game through four weeks.
Houston is averaging 343.8 yards of offense per game. Neither side can afford to assume anything, especially in a matchup between two winless teams where desperation is part of the atmosphere.
Kickoff is set for noon Central on Oct. 11.
Dell’s practice return is a real step forward, and it should stay that way - a step. The Texans already have enough on offense to beat Tennessee if they stay with what’s working.
Stroud is taking care of the ball. Collins is back.
Schultz is productive. The young receivers are helping.
Houston scored 30 against Dallas.
For one Sunday, that’s enough reason to keep the ball with the quarterback who has not thrown an interception in 154 passes and let him try to lead the Texans to their first win.
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