WWW.CLICK2HOUSTON.COM
Texans Tank Dell on comeback, training camp: Im ready, cant wait, long journey, light at end of the tunnel
Tank Dell has navigated one of the longest roads any football player has endured.Now, the Texans wide receiver is closing in on the final stages of his ongoing comeback from a devastating knee injury. After dislocating his knee and tearing his anterior cruciate, medial collateral and lateral collateral ligaments while catching a touchdown in a December 2024 game at Arrowhead Stadium, Dell is preparing for increased activity at training camp.Im ready, Dell told KPRC 2 Saturday afternoon during a Fanatics event at Dicks House of Sport where he was joined by teammates Danielle Hunter and Nico Collins. I cant wait.#Texans Tank Dell on his outlook for training camp as he ramps up activity from spring in comeback from 2024 knee injury 'I'm ready, I can't wait' @KPRC2 #NFL pic.twitter.com/b6tpGmhjMF Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 13, 2026Dell has worked tirelessly to reach this stage of his comeback. Hes on his grind, haunting the Texans weight room and training room to relaunch his career after undergoing two surgeries in January of 2025 to repair the damage to his knee.Its been a roller coaster ride, Dell said. You know, I have my good days, I have my bad days. Just me keeping my trust in God, being faithful with God and just knowing that He could come through for me. I always had, like, a levitating head.I always knew thats the main thing, and I always kept that at the front of my head. Its been a roller coaster ride, to say the least. Its been a long journey, but Im built for it, and Im ready for it, and I was ready for it. Im getting through it, and its light at the end of the tunnel, so Im almost there.#Texans Tank Dell on his hard work and dedication to come back from knee injury 'It's been a roller coaster ride. It's been a long journey, but I'm built for it. There's light at the end of the tunnel' @DICKS House of Sport @Fanatics @KPRC2 @KPRCNick @KPRC2RandyMc https://t.co/xdNDrXApID pic.twitter.com/zFYoZvODxu Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 13, 2026During the Texans minicamp, Dell took an important step in his recovery. He was limited in the majority of the drills, but he did catch passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud against the Texans top-ranked defense. The plan is to ramp him up the former University of Houston star at training camp in late July.Ill be there, Dell said. Just to be out there with the team, man, and just to feel the camaraderie, just being out there and catching a ball from C.J. and being in the team atmosphere, man, it felt so good. Yall dont understand how long I waited for that. pic.twitter.com/luDLJlGCh0 Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) June 4, 2026Dell is making strides. He was able to run and cut, albeit not yet at his old dynamic self. He is not a full participant in organized team activities. Nonetheless, Dell looked pretty good.It was an encouraging sign for Dell, who has endured hard luck and tough breaks while flashing a lot of skill and impactful potential in his first few NFL seasons. The support from his family, his teammates, coaches, training staff and his fans, it all means so much to Dell.My family, of course. God first, but my family, of course, and the belief I have from the organization, from Nick (Caserio) on to the bottom, from Nick (Caley) to DeMeco to my receiver coach, Ben (McDaniels) to the training staff, Roland (Ramirez) and everyone in the training staff.Its been a great ride, a great journey, and they held me down from the jump. Its going to be a great year for us. You know, our number one goal is to be the first team to put a bull on the ring. Thats main focus going to a Super Bowl. Thats all were thinking about.Dell is a popular figure with the Texans fan base. He felt that connection again Saturday as heIts very cool, Dell said. I love the fans. I love the city. I love the organization that I play for. Man, I love everything about Houston. It was great to interact with the fans and be close and get to touch them and hug them.#Texans Danielle Hunter @DICKS House of Sport Fanatics @Fanatics event where he showed off his soccer skills with impressive dribbling @FIFAWorldCup @KPRC2 https://t.co/Kzj5HXepTN pic.twitter.com/uzwyAz2hez Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 13, 2026Texans coach DeMeco Ryans has consistently provided encouragement to Dell, and an open door to him to talk about anything as he went through this adversity.Anything I needed, I could go in there and talk to them about it, especially to DeMeco, Ryans said. His number one rule, his door is always open. You can talk to him about anything.Hes a players coach, so you can really talk to DeMeco about anything, and hed be there for you. They just held me down from the jump, and its been awesome, and Im thankful to be in the situation that I was in. Im thankful to be at the Texans, playing for the Texans.Dell broke his leg as a rookie blocking in the red zone against the Denver Broncos. Then, he got shot as an innocent bystander that offseason in his leg. Two seasons ago, Dell tore up his knee while catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs.The Texans are taking a patient, big-picture approach with Dell. The hope is that he can ramp up his participation by training camp and regain his old form.Tank is still working off on the side, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said during the first organized team activity. When that time is set for him to be back, hell be back out there.And that time is approaching, gradually.Tank has been around, working out all throughout the offseason while no one else was here, Ryans said. Tank has been here working, grinding in the background. Im excited to see Tank when it is his time to get back out and play football, as is everybody here. We all love Tank. Weve seen the ability that he has, the big playmaking ability. Nobody loves Tank more than me. Im hopeful that we can get him back to playing, back to the level that he was playing. But I think its also, we know how devastating of an injury that was for Tank. So, Im proud of the young man. For him just working in the background, working in silence to be back here working out with the guys and having that opportunity to go play again.#Texans wide receiver Tank Dell comeback continues, step by step @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/XFbt2CRzH2 Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 4, 2026Caserio said previously that the team will evaluate where Dell stands after spring workouts to determine his activity level at training camp. He was noncommittal on a timeline.With Tank, honestly, its probably a day-to-day, well kind of see where he is, Caserio said. Probably have a better idea as we get through the spring of what his availability is going to be in training camp. Hes been here pretty religiously, since hes been able to do more once hes gotten out of the rehab stage.Dell has fought through all of the doubt and frustration of an injury that interrupted the dynamic start to his NFL career, leaning on faith, hard work, family, friends and coaches like Ryans to remain positive and optimistic.Dell called it the hardest year of his life.Dell is looking forward to making a healthy return and get back to playing the game he loves.What Ive been through is something that taught me to be humble and just keep working, Im back, Im feeling good right now, Dell said earlier this offseason. Once the season comes, Im gonna cook up.#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans update on Brevin Jordan and Tank Dell. Jordan is practicing, Dell is working out on the side @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/LgfBCABACj Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 28, 2026Running free, catching touchdown passes, bolting past coverage.Thats the vision for Dell. The comeback trail is being paved month by month for Dell as he continues to strengthen his surgically repaired knee.Dell tried to make a return for the end of the season as the Texans made another playoff run that ended in the divisional round, but it was regarded as too soon for him to get back out there.I was making a push, I wanted to be out there with the guys, Dell said. Last year, that football season alone, was the hardest year of my life. Just sitting out of football for a year straight. Been playing football since I was five and that was my first year I ever had to sit out of football so that was hard. I tried to make a push back, it didnt go as planned. I got time now and Ill be ready.Soccer skills from #Texans Danielle Hunter, Nico Collins, Tank Dell @KPRC2 at @DICKS House of Sport in Friendswood https://t.co/DX1B4u94vM pic.twitter.com/VCzCUcelOx Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 13, 2026Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
0 Comments 0 Shares 62 Views 0 Reviews