Tank Dell Season Start
Texans Place Wide Receiver Tank Dell on Injured Reserve for Start of Season
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Key Points
1
Tank Dell will miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season—the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys—due to starting the year on injured reserve with a designation to return.
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The Texans placed Dell on injured reserve with a designation to return ahead of the roster-cutdown deadline, which keeps him on the roster while he recovers and can be activated later in the season.
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Dell was the No. 69 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (third round) and signed a four-year rookie contract worth $5,689,094 with a $1,137,523 signing bonus.
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In 2024 Dell appeared in 14 games with 51 receptions on 81 targets for 667 yards and three touchdowns.
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Dell has begun practicing in Texans training camp and returned to the field for the first time since the knee injury, signaling progress toward a potential return later in the season.
Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell will start the 2026 season on injured reserve with a designation to return, sidelining him for at least the first four games TSN. Dell tore his ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus in December 2024 and missed all of 2025 recovering from the severe knee injury USA Today. The move keeps him on the roster while he continues rehab, with the team able to activate him later in the season once cleared.
Dell's Long Road Back From Severe Knee Damage
Dell suffered a catastrophic knee injury in December 2024 that required surgery on multiple ligaments and his meniscus Gridiron Heroics. The injury forced him to miss the entire 2025 season as he underwent extensive rehabilitation. He has recently begun practicing in training camp, marking his first return to the field since the initial injury and signaling measurable progress toward a return.
The four-game minimum absence covers Houston's matchups against Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Dallas ABC13. The Texans placed him on injured reserve during their 53-man roster cutdown, a timing that keeps him on the roster while freeing up a spot for other players during the transition period.
A Productive Receiver When Healthy
Dell was selected 69th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft and signed a four-year rookie contract worth $5.69 million with a $1.14 million signing bonus. Before his injury, he compiled 98 receptions for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns across 25 games in 2023 and 2024, establishing himself as a key offensive weapon.
In 2024 alone, Dell appeared in 14 games with 51 receptions on 81 targets for 667 yards and three touchdowns USA Today. His absence left Houston's passing attack thinner, especially after receiver Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending injury, heightening the need for Dell's return.
New IR Rules Allow Flexible Activation Timeline
A new 2026 rule permits teams to designate two players for return from injured reserve, giving Houston flexibility in when to activate Dell 4for4. Previously, players had to remain on injured reserve for longer stretches without this option. The designation to return allows the Texans to call him up whenever medical clearance is granted.
Until Dell is designated for return and activated, he cannot practice or play in games TSN. The Texans will likely promote other receivers to maintain depth at the position while they wait for Dell's full recovery and medical approval to return to game action.
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