Tank Dell set to return for Texans Sunday vs. Giants

Wednesday was the first practice week where Tank Dell's name came with a game attached, and the cameras found him early.

Aaron Wilson

@AaronWilson_NFL

#Texans Tank Dell is back, back @KPRC2 @KPRC2RandyMc

Remember how this happened. In December 2024 against Kansas City, Dell dislocated his knee and tore his ACL, MCL and LCL, and he still came down with the touchdown. He missed all of 2025, spent the start of this season on injured reserve, and only got his 21-day practice window opened in recent weeks. On Monday, DeMeco Ryans made it official: Tank plays Sunday.

Ryans spent his afternoon presser sounding less like a head coach and more like a guy who bought a ticket. He called the receiver room a true strength that lets Houston press tempo and put defenses in a bind, called the pile of wideouts a good problem to have, and refused to put a number on Dell's snaps.

Aaron Wilson

@AaronWilson_NFL

Managing Tank Dell workload, 'It's a feel, no expectation for certain play number, him just going out and playing ball, I don't care how many plays he gets, I'll have my Tank Dell jersey on Sunday' #Texans DeMeco Ryans

The locker room was on the same page. Will Anderson Jr. said he'd been hugging Dell all day and that it just feels different when Tank is out there. C.J. Stroud called it perfect timing and said his brother has defied a lot of odds. And the injury report backed up the vibes: Nico Collins and Anderson were limited for rest, while Dell was a full participant.

Then Dell got the podium. He said he's blessed, not overwhelmed but anxious after dang near 2 years, called it a traumatic injury, and said he never doubted he'd be back after posting that promise right after it happened. He thanked Dr. Walter Lowe, who did both of his knee surgeries, gave Nick Caley's play-calling a shoutout, and said his grandma has been bugging him about Sunday because the whole family is coming. He also already has a celebration planned.

Aaron Wilson

@AaronWilson_NFL

'I don't care if the first catch is two yards, five yards, I'm spiking the ball,' #Texans Tank Dell on return Sunday vs. #Giants

Before the injury Dell had 51 catches for 667 yards and 3 touchdowns in 14 games in 2024, and he's 5-foot-10, 165 pounds of quick. Ryans says he's as quick as ever. Nobody's promising a stat line Sunday. The only promise on the table is a spike, and after 2 years, a 2-yard catch counts.