Tank Dell has been sidelined for a few weeks with injury. The talented rookie playmaker has emerged as a key part of the Houston Texans offense and was playing very well before getting hurt. Fans of the franchise and fantasy managers have been patiently waiting for his return. When will that be?
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Tank Dell injury update
Tank Dell suffered a concussion during Week 5. During the loss, the rookie wide receiver hit his head as he went down to catch a pass right before halftime. He was taken off the field to be checked and was eventually ruled out with a concussion.
He missed the game against the New Orleans Saints and the Texans had a bye week last week. They have missed their star wideout and are hoping that he can come back and help their offense.
Thus far, he has become one of C.J. Stroud’s favorite targets. It’s now been a multi-week absence, and Stroud and the team are certainly looking to get him back as soon as possible.
He is still technically in the concussion protocol, but it looks as if he is progressing fine after two weeks on the bench recovering.
The concussion protocol is fairly difficult to get through. After Tua Tagovailoa and others had worrying head injuries in 2022, the league is attempting to prevent them in any way possible, and that includes a strict recovery protocol.
What happened to Tank Dell?
Tank Dell slid to the ground to grab a low throw from CJ Stroud all the way back in Week 5. He appeared to make an impressive catch, but he banged his head on the ground in the process. That caused his concussion, which he has been dealing with ever since.
The Texans earned a win in Week 6 despite the absence of Dell, but it was clear that they need their speedy playmaker on the field to ensure they keep winning moving forward.
A concussion is one of the most difficult injuries an NFL player can get. They’re not good for health and have long-term issues, and they can force players into multi-week absences, which is what Dell experienced.
When will Tank Dell return?
Fortunately, the star wide receiver is expected to return this week. DeMeco Ryans said a while back that he expected Tank Dell to be good to go following the Week 7 bye:
“Tank should be back and ready to go after the bye as well.”
Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers await in a highly-anticipated matchup between the top two picks. Stroud has done well so far, but he will need to have his playmaker in the lineup if he wants to outduel Young.
If he cannot suit up during Week 8, then he would be in line to return when his Texans face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. That doesn’t appear to be very likely, though.
