Houston Texans huge receiver Tank Dell suffered a “vital” knee damage in Saturday’s 27-19 loss to the Chiefs and it’ll require him to stay in a Kansas Metropolis-area hospital in a single day for additional analysis, head coach DeMeco Ryans introduced.

“Tank had a big knee damage and he’ll be staying right here in Kansas Metropolis in a single day getting additional evaluations, and we’ll get an replace tomorrow on him,” Ryans mentioned. “Simply all our ideas and prayers are with Tank proper now.”

NFL Community Insider Ian Rapoport experiences that whereas docs are nonetheless working to find out the extent of his damage, Dell did undergo a dislocated kneecap. Rapoport provides that surgical procedure is feasible, nevertheless it has not but occurred.

Dell’s damage occurred throughout his spectacular landing catch early within the third quarter. The second-year WR hauled in a 30-yard cross from C.J. Stroud behind the tip zone, however teammate Jared Wayne’s diving physique undercut the legs of Dell, who remained on the turf in ache.

Dell’s total left leg was stabilized in an air solid and he was placed on a stretcher earlier than being carted off the sphere. He was then transported by way of ambulance to the College of Kansas medical heart, the place he’ll keep in a single day.

Regardless of the TD catch giving Houston an opportunity at tying the sport, Dell’s damage was an emotional scene for the Texans.

Stroud, who was a part of the Texans’ 2023 draft class alongside Dell, was clearly distraught by the damage, refraining from any quick celebration of his TD throw and turning into overcome with emotion as soon as he and his teammates huddled round Dell.

“That is my greatest buddy,” Stroud mentioned postgame. “I used to be going by way of it.”

Dell led the Texans in receiving on Saturday with six catches for 98 yards and a landing. It was the kind of efficiency which confirmed that the 25-year-old was returning to kind a bit of multiple 12 months faraway from struggling a fractured leg which ended his spectacular rookie marketing campaign.

“You guys have seen what he means to our total group. It damage. It hurts to see him go down like that,” Ryans mentioned. “He was having a unbelievable sport, enjoying rather well for us. He was in a unbelievable spot. We simply wish to preserve him in our ideas and prayers proper now.”

The Texans nonetheless managed to clinch their second consecutive AFC South title following final week’s win over the Miami Dolphins regardless of all of it, however Dell’s damage on Saturday portends to be a large blow for a playoff-bound group.