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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Houston Texans wideout Tank Dell was carted off the sector with what coach DeMeco Ryans later known as a “important” knee damage after he caught a landing move from quarterback C.J. Stroud within the third quarter of Saturday’s 27-19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dell was taken to College of Kansas Hospital, a Degree 1 trauma heart about 12 miles from Arrowhead Stadium.
A supply advised ESPN that Dell dislocated his kneecap, confirming an NFL Community report. Another potential accidents to the knee weren’t instantly identified.
Ryans stated Dell would stay on the hospital in a single day for additional analysis.
“All our ideas and prayers are with Tank proper now,” Ryans stated. “You guys can see what he means to our complete crew.”
On the Texans’ first possession of the second half, Stroud threw a 30-yard landing move to Dell to chop Kansas Metropolis’s result in 17-16. However on the reception, wideout Jared Wayne collided with Dell’s decrease leg deep ultimately zone, and Dell instantly grabbed his leg however in any other case barely moved.
The Texans hovered round Dell as just a few gamers broke out into tears earlier than his leg was positioned in an air solid and he was lifted into the again of the cart. The second-year wideout out of Houston was enjoying a significant position in opposition to the Chiefs as he had a team-high 98 yards on seven catches with the landing.
“It hurts to see him go down like that,” Ryans stated. “He was having a implausible sport.”
The damage appeared to have an effect on the Texans’ offense on the sector as a lot because it did emotionally. Houston had three possessions after Dell was harm and scored solely three factors. The unit acquired the ball with 5:13 left and trailing 27-19, however after two unfavorable performs, Stroud was sacked on third down, resulting in a punt. The Chiefs’ offense subsequently picked up a number of first downs and ran out the clock.
Stroud, who broke out in tears after the damage, despatched out his prayers to Dell postgame.
“It is not straightforward seeing your brother go down like that,” he stated.
“I am simply tore up, however on the similar time, I acquired to be sturdy for him. For something whether or not it goes left or proper, up or down, I’ve to reward my Lord and savior. It is not straightforward, however after [the injury] I attempt to use it as motivation, it isn’t straightforward to only let it go. That is my finest pal. It is not straightforward to maneuver on and simply preserve enjoying. I attempted to do the very best that I might. My teammates helped me up, Joe [Mixon] helped me up and Dalton [Schultz]. I admire the blokes simply speaking to me as a result of I used to be going by way of it.”
Texans wideout Nico Collins, who completed with seven catches for 60 yards, struggled to search out phrases to precise his feelings postgame.
“That s— hurts. It hurts,” he stated. “We all know how a lot he meant to this crew. However dropping one in every of your brothers, man, it hurts. Speedy restoration for my canine. Mentally he is going by way of it, however now we have to maintain stepping, preserve climbing for him.”
Dell’s rookie season in 2023 was reduce quick after he suffered a damaged leg in an early-December sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos. Earlier this previous offseason, he was shot at a personal occasion in Sanford, Florida, the place authorities stated a teenage gunman injured 10 individuals after an altercation. Dell’s wound was minor, and he was launched from the hospital shortly after the April 28 capturing.
Dell has 667 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Dell’s damage was the third main decrease leg damage for the Texans within the afternoon. Earlier within the sport, guard Shaq Mason suffered a knee damage within the first quarter, and security Jimmie Ward injured his foot within the second. Ward was carted off, and Mason limped off after our bodies fell on his knee however was dominated out shortly afterward.
The Texans have solely three full days to get well from the loss, as they play the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day.
