Caserio: Tank Dell (knee/IR) ‘close’ to return

He did not practice on Friday and was ruled out. The Texans reportedly pushed hard on Dell in full pads on Thursday’s practice despite the questionable listing, it seems his body did not react as they’d hoped. This leaves Jaylin Noel in a potential FLEX-useful spot against a rough Titans secondary.

The diminutive wide receiver remains limited through two practices. In most situations, that would put him on track to play. In this case, Dell might need to consistently practice fully before the Texans let him go out there on game day. Stay tuned.

It is unclear when Dell will take the field on game day, but he is officially participating in his 21-day practice window. His range of potential outcomes is quite wide. Stashing him on fantasy benches is a reasonable move at this time, though he is not guaranteed to be a fantasy contributor.

Dell has missed the mandatory four games on injured reserve, but may be a week-to-week proposition at this point. None of the Texans secondary receivers have really hit the bar of fantasy interesting — partially because none of them gets full playing time — and we’d be skeptical that Dell would hit that either early in his return. But he could grow into a bigger role as the season plays out.

The deal includes $1 million in guarantees while saving the franchise almost $2 million against the cap. Dell is reportedly nearing a return from the devastating knee injury suffered in Week 16 of the 2024 season but will begin 2026 on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he will miss the first four games of the regular season. The contract restructure hints at a potential “prove it” year for Dell, giving the team options following 2026 pending health.

The designation to return means that Dell is expected to contribute in some capacity this season, although he appears a ways off still. With Jaylin Noel still nursing an injury after experiencing a setback and Jayden Higgins lost for the season, recent acquisition Kayshon Boutte has all the runway to operate as the WR2 opposite Nico Collins to start the season. Xavier Hutchinson should also see an uptick in opportunities while tight end Dalton Schultz should see a significant boost in weekly volume.

NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson noted earlier today that Noel was not participating in practice due to a finger injury, which he suffered in July, and a recent hamstring injury. It turns out Noel’s recent hamstring injury is actually a re-injury. Fellow second-year WR Jayden Higgins has the inside track to the WR2 role. Noel was set to compete with Xavier Hutchinson and WR Tank Dell for the WR3 gig. Instead, he is losing valuable preseason reps. Noel might be best viewed as an early-season waiver wire add.

NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson listed the Texans players who were not practicing on Sunday. Dell was the only player who was not listed with an injury designation, so it seems likely that this is just a rest day. The Texans are easing Dell, 26, back into action following a lengthy absence stemming from a multi-ligament knee injury suffered in 2024. Dell’s range of potential outcomes remains wide. He may be best suited to a complementary, rotational role.

This news comes from NBC Houston’s Aaron Wilson. Dell’s participation on Monday is a notable step in his recovery as the fourth-year receiver continues to work his way back from a devastating knee injury that ended his 2024 season and sidelined him for all of 2025. Head coach DeMeco Ryans said last week that the team is planning to take its time bringing Dell back, but it appears he is making good progress with a few weeks still left in camp. Whether or not Dell will be ready for Week 1 remains up in the air, but he’s clearly trending in the right direction.

Dell has been on the practice field in a limited capacity for the Texans and is expected to be limited for the next few weeks. The fourth-year receiver missed all of last season due to a horrific knee injury he suffered in 2024 and is hoping to return to action sooner rather than later. On Friday, Dell was non-committal about when he expects to first suit up for a game, but he’s clearly trending in the right direction after an extended time away. Dell returning in any capacity is great news for a player who has had to endure what he went through to make it back, but he faces stiff competition for targets in a wide receiver room that is ripe with playmakers.