KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was admitted to the University of Kansas Medical Center and is expected to remain there overnight following a serious injury to his left knee. The injury occurred when he made an impressive 30-yard touchdown catch during a game against the Chiefs, which ended in a 27-19 loss for Houston during the match.
Dell showcased his skills by catching a pass from C.J. Stroud while maneuvering across the back of the end zone. Unfortunately, he collided with teammate Jared Wayne as he fell, immediately indicating distress by grasping his knee. Wayne quickly summoned team trainers, who tended to Dell for several minutes as fellow players looked on with concern.
Ultimately, Dell was placed on a stretcher and transported off the field in a covered medical cart before being taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
“We’ll get an update (Monday) on him,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans stated. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Tank right now. It’s tough to watch someone who means so much to our team go down like that. He was playing exceptionally well.”
At the time of his injury, Dell had recorded six receptions for 98 yards and that crucial touchdown, with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter.
Stroud, who shares a close friendship with Dell, appeared visibly distressed by the incident. With tears in his eyes, he observed as Dell was placed onto the medical cart. Stroud leaned on the support of his teammates as he returned to the sidelines, struggling to collect himself. “It’s hard to move on, especially when it’s someone so close to you. I appreciate my teammates for helping me through it,” Stroud said.
The touchdown catch was pivotal, as it could have tied the game. However, Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the following extra point, allowing the Chiefs to seize the momentum and subsequently score a touchdown, extending their lead to 24-16, which ultimately sealed the game for them.
“When you see your brother go down like that, it’s tough to bounce back. It’s hard to refocus because we genuinely care about one another. In moments like these, Tank’s well-being is what really matters,” Ryans remarked.
This marks the second consecutive year Dell has suffered a potentially season-ending injury. Last season, he fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos, just as he was starting to make a mark, and underwent surgery shortly afterward. Earlier this year, in April, the 25-year-old receiver was unintentionally caught in gunfire at a private event in Sanford, Florida, resulting in a minor gunshot wound, though he was released from the hospital quickly.
Xavier Hutchinson, a fellow Texans receiver, expressed confidence in Dell’s resilience, stating, “He loves this game deeply. He will come back even stronger than before; he always does. It’s only a matter of time until he’s back on the field.”
Dell was not the only Texan carted off the field Saturday; free safety Jimmie Ward also suffered a foot injury late in the first half. The team endured further setbacks on offense as starting guard Shaq Mason exited early due to a knee injury, while backup lineman Blake Fisher was assisted off later with an undisclosed injury. This came after Juice Scruggs was declared inactive for the game due to a foot injury.
Kansas City also faced significant injuries on that chilly, windy day. The most notable was defensive tackle Chris Jones, who left the field with a calf strain. Chiefs coach Andy Reid did not provide clarity on Jones’s availability for the upcoming Christmas Day game against Pittsburgh.
Additionally, right tackle Jawaan Taylor was sidelined after suffering a knee strain, and backup linebacker Jack Cochrane may miss the remainder of the season due to an ankle fracture sustained while blocking during a special teams play early in the game.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
