Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was hospitalized at the University of Kansas Medical Center following a severe left knee injury sustained during a 30-yard touchdown catch in Saturday’s 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The team announced that Dell would remain in the hospital overnight for evaluation.
Dell made a spectacular catch from quarterback C.J. Stroud in the back of the end zone but collided with teammate Jared Wayne as he fell to the ground. Dell immediately reached for his knee, prompting Wayne to signal for medical assistance. Team trainers worked on Dell for several minutes while his teammates looked on anxiously.
Eventually, Dell was placed on a stretcher and transported off the field in a covered medical cart before being taken to the hospital.
“We’ll get an update on him (Monday),” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “All of our thoughts and prayers are with Tank right now. You see what he means to our entire team. It hurts to see him go down like that. He was having a fantastic game.” At the time of his injury, Dell had recorded six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown, with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter.
Stroud, visibly shaken by the incident, had tears in his eyes as he watched Dell being loaded onto the cart. “It’s not easy to just let it go, especially because that’s my best friend,” Stroud said. “I tried to do the best I could. My teammates helped me up, and I appreciate the guys talking to me as I was going through it.”
Dell’s touchdown catch was intended to tie the game, but kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the subsequent extra point. The Chiefs capitalized on the momentum shift, driving 80 yards for a touchdown and taking a 24-16 lead.
“It’s hard to bounce back when you see your brother go down like that,” Ryans said. “We truly care about each other, and in that moment, the most important thing was making sure Tank was OK.” This marks the second consecutive season that Dell has suffered a significant injury. Last year, he fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos and underwent surgery the following day. Earlier this year, Dell was also injured when he was an innocent bystander at a private event in Sanford, Florida, where he sustained a minor gunshot wound.
“He loves this game so much. He’s going to fight back,” said Texans receiver Xavier Hutchinson. “He’s going to come back even stronger, like he did this year. It’s only a matter of time.”
Dell was not the only Texan to suffer an injury during the game. Free safety Jimmie Ward also left with a foot injury. Additionally, the Texans’ offensive line faced further challenges as starting guard Shaq Mason exited early with a knee injury, and backup lineman Blake Fisher was helped off the field later in the first half. This came after Juice Scruggs, another starting lineman, was declared inactive due to a foot injury.
Kansas City also dealt with injuries on a cold, windy day. Defensive tackle Chris Jones strained a calf and did not finish the game, while Chiefs coach Andy Reid did not provide updates on Jones’ availability for the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor left with a knee strain, and backup linebacker Jack Cochrane is likely out for the season after fracturing his ankle during a special teams play early in the game.
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