Tank Dell has returned to Houston after the Texans star spent Saturday night in hospital in Kansas City with a horrific knee injury sustained in the NFL game against the Chiefs.
Speaking Sunday afternoon, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Dell was on his way home but the prognosis on his injury was still unclear. It was reported on Saturday night that Dell had dislocated his knee.
‘Right now, he’s flying back to Houston,’ Ryans said. ‘We’ll still be evaluating, see where he is, still meeting with doctors to see what’s next for him, but it is a significant knee injury, and our thoughts and prayers are with him.’
‘We would really like to thank the Kansas City medical team and the doctors there and their staff for being very accommodating,’ Ryans added. ‘For helping out with Tank, giving him a room, getting him set up. I really thought those guys did a really unbelievable job.
‘(Head athletic trainer) Rick Burkholder and his staff, they did an unbelievable job and very thankful to the entire Kansas City organization and their medical team.’
Ryans said that he has been in contact with Dell, but did not share any information about their conversations.
Tank Dell was hospitalized with a slickening knee injury as the Texans lost to the Chiefs
Dell has sustained a significant knee injury, with multiple reports saying he dislocated his knee
Dell’s Texans teammate CJ Stroud appeared to be fighting back tears at seeing the injury
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud appeared to be fighting back tears during the lengthy delay on Saturday as Dell was treated by medics.
Ryans said his team are still processing what happened, explaining: ‘We’re talking about real people who have real emotions, real feelings that are going through a tough time right now.
‘So just some thoughts and prayers with everyone that’s involved in this situation.’
Dell had six catches for 98 yards and the touchdown when he was hurt with 11:40 left in the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium.
It´s the second straight year Dell has sustained what is almost certain to be a season-ending injury. He fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos last season, just as the rookie was breaking out, and had surgery on it the following day.
Then in April, the 25-year-old was an innocent bystander at a private event in Sanford, Florida, when he sustained a minor gunshot wound. Dell spent a brief amount of time in the hospital but was able to return to Houston soon afterward.
Dell, a third-round pick out of the University of Houston last year, ranks second on the team with 51 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns.
His injury is another blow to a team that was already missing Stefon Diggs after the four-time Pro Bowl receiver sustained a season-ending knee injury in Week 8.
The Texans lost to the Chiefs 27-19 in the end and will bid to return to winning ways on Christmas Day against Baltimore Ravens.
Ryans was coy over questions about the team signing a new wide receiver given Dell’s absence.
‘A little early right now for me when it comes to that,’ he said. ‘But we’re always exploring everything we have to do to improve our team.’