Tank Dell Eyes Comeback After Grueling Injury: “We’re Gonna Cook Up”
Tank Dell hasn’t seen the field since suffering a brutal knee injury in December 2024 - the kind that makes you wince just reading the medical report. Torn ACL, torn MCL, torn LCL, meniscus damage, and a dislocated knee. It was a devastating blow for one of the Houston Texans’ most electric young playmakers, and it kept him out for the entirety of the 2025 season, including the team’s playoff run that ended in the Divisional Round against the Patriots.
But now, after more than a year of grueling rehab and recovery, Dell is finally speaking out - and he’s not just talking about getting back. He’s talking about making noise.
“What I’ve been through is something that taught me to be humble and just keep working,” Dell said Wednesday. “But I’m back. I feel like I’m feeling good right now… Once the season comes, we’re gonna cook up.”
That’s not just confidence. That’s a wide receiver who’s hungry - a player who’s been sidelined for the first time since he started playing football at age five, and who’s itching to remind the league what he can do.
“I’ve been playing football since I was five, and that was the first year I’ve ever had to sit out from football,” he added. “That was hard.”
And you can understand why. Before the injury, Dell had carved out a key role in Houston’s offense.
In 14 games during the 2024 season, he ranked third on the team in receptions (51), third in targets (81), and second in receiving yards (667), while hauling in three touchdowns. He was developing real chemistry with rookie quarterback C.J.
Stroud and giving the Texans a dynamic weapon in the slot and on the outside.
But just as he was starting to hit his stride, the injury hit - a season-ending, career-pausing moment that forced Dell into a long, painful road back. Multiple surgeries.
Endless rehab. Mental hurdles that don’t show up on the stat sheet.
Now, with the 2026 season on the horizon, Dell is sounding like a man who’s ready to reclaim his spot in the Texans’ offense - and maybe even take it to another level.
Standing by Stroud
While Dell’s comeback is one of the more inspiring storylines for Houston heading into the offseason, his comments weren’t just about himself. He also stepped up to defend quarterback C.J. Stroud, who’s taken some heat for his postseason performances.
Stroud, the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year, struggled in the playoffs this past season, and the critics have been quick to pounce. But inside the Texans’ locker room, there’s no doubt about who their leader is - and Dell made that clear.
“People can say what they want about [Stroud],” Dell said. “That’s just them sitting there on their couches, typing on their computers, typing on their phones.
But everybody knows who [Stroud] is, especially in the facility. We know who he is.
When we get back out there with him, it’s gonna be special. So, we can let them say what they want.”
That’s a strong vote of confidence from a guy who’s been in the trenches with Stroud and knows what he brings to the huddle. Stroud’s poise, accuracy, and leadership helped turn Houston into a playoff team far ahead of schedule, and Dell clearly believes that with a healthy roster - including himself - the best is yet to come.
What’s Next?
There’s still a long way to go before Dell is back on the field in a live game. The Texans will be cautious with his return, as they should be.
But if his words are any indication, his mindset is in the right place. He’s not just aiming to return - he’s aiming to make an impact.
And if Dell can get back to the form he showed in 2024, this Texans offense could be even more dangerous in 2026. Between Dell, Stroud, and a young core that’s already shown flashes of brilliance, Houston has the pieces to build something special.
For now, though, Dell is focused on one thing: getting back to doing what he loves.
“We’re gonna cook up,” he said.
If you’re a Texans fan, that’s exactly what you want to hear.