Tank Dell's Texans expectations for 2026 revealed by ESPN after long injury absence

It's been a while.

The Houston Texans haven't gotten to use Tank Dell's explosive talent on the football field in more than a year, and they're hopeful that his long injury recovery is finally over.

Still, a lot has changed. The Texans added multiple young receivers in 2025. Dell's role isn't as certain.

To worry about a role, though, Dell first has to simply return to action.

"Last we saw him, he was making splash plays against the Chiefs in December 2024," ESPN's Ben Solak wrote in a new article on Tuesday. "But on Houston's first play of the second half, Dell was hit in the back of the end zone after an incredible 30-yard touchdown catch. He suffered a dislocated kneecap, torn ACL, torn MCL, torn LCL and damage to his meniscus, missing the entire 2025 season as a result."

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The words coming from the Texans have generally been positive about a Dell return.

"General manager Nick Caserio said training camp seems like a "reasonable time frame" for Dell's return," Solak writes. "To that end, videos of Dell cutting and running routes have trickled onto social media. Dell wants to go, and understandably so. Not only has he not played football in over a year, but the Texans also invested heavily in wide receiver in his absence. In the 2025 draft, they spent second- (Jayden Higgins) and third-round picks (Jaylin Noel) at the position."

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Once Dell is back, then the Texans can start figuring out how much usage he really gets.

Their offensive structure is different from the last time he was on the field, which could have as much input on his chances as anything.

"Dell was seeing about 70% of the snaps per game in 2024, serving as the No. 3 to Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs in an 11-personnel-heavy offense," Solak writes. "In coordinator Nick Caley's system, which runs more tight ends and fullbacks, Dell would see his snap participation decrease before we even consider any decline from his long absence. But because he has blazing speed, he can still be an impact player in a rotational role -- whether as a field stretcher or as a returner on special teams."

Frankly, just seeing Dell back on the field will be a cool thing for the Texans and their fans. Whatever he does from there is a bonus.

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