The Houston Texans still don’t have a clear answer on when Tank Dell will be back, and the latest update doesn’t point to anything soon.
Dell entered camp with a little momentum after avoiding the PUP list and getting on the practice field, which at least opened the door to some hope that he might be available when the 2026 regular season began. But that early progress never turned into a preseason return, and the Texans ultimately moved him to IR for the first four weeks of the season before planning to revisit his status.
Now that that window is nearing its end, the picture around Dell has gone quiet again - and not in a good way. During a recent livestream, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson said the Texans have offered “no timeline” for Dell’s return and made it clear the comeback is not close.
“It is a serious injury, and he is not there yet. They also don’t have a home for him at this point with the other receivers they have up.
They’ve given us no timeline,” Wilson said earlier this week. “I’ve checked on this.
It’s not imminent. I can tell you that.
If it happens, it’s later in the season.”
That means fans probably shouldn’t expect Dell to jump right back into the mix once his return-to-practice window opens after Week 4. Based on Wilson’s update, even that next step feels like it would be followed by more waiting.
Dell is still working back from the knee injury he suffered over 20 months ago, one that damaged his ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus. The missing piece now appears to be the final burst of speed and explosiveness the Texans want to see before they feel comfortable putting him back on the field.
For now, the situation leaves three possible paths for Dell and Houston this season, with the most extreme outcome being one nobody wants to entertain. The longer he stays out each week, the tighter the window becomes for him to contribute at all this year.
So the next few weeks matter. Unless something changes, Dell’s return looks like it will come much later than initially hoped, if it comes at all.
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