Tank Dell has been through a lot, but the adversity only appears to have emboldened the Houston Texans wide receiver.
Dell took the podium after practice on Friday, marking his first official media availability since his injury in Week 16 of the 2024 season against the Kansas City Chiefs. He addressed a variety of topics: forgiveness, support, and even his outlook.
Most importantly, he showed no signs of being anything less of a player or person than before.
Tank Dell Sends Message in 1st Texans Presser Since Injury
GettyTank Dell spoke candidily about his recovery from a devastating knee injury.
Dell told reporters after practice on August 7 that getting back on the practice field with the Texans is “nothing short of a blessing” and that it is a “testament to all the work that I put in with the staff, on my own, and God first.”
He noted that “mentally, it’s just about trusting that the work you put in” and “the process,” noting conversations with his doctor about his rebuilt knee being “100% stable.”
From that point on, “I ain’t care about it.”
“Try not to think about it. Because during your process, the mental aspect of it is the hardest thing you gotta get over. So, if I went out there iffy about what I’m doing, then I probably would never be able to come back to what I want to be. So, I was just out there just trusting it, put my foot on the ground, trying to be explosive, and it’s working in my favor so.”
Dell said that he put “all my trust and faith” in God during his recovery, leaning on that to help him reach the goal he set for his bounce-back. That is to return “better than what I left off. Be better than what I left off that Chiefs game.
“When I come back, I want to come back not like, ‘Oh, is it gonna be the same?’ I want to come back better than where I was.
“That was never like a question in my head.”
“When God want to build you up, he don’t bring you comfort,” Dell said. “He puts you through a storm. So, when I was in a storm, I just had my trust in him, knowing that I’ll get back to where I want to be. And just, every day, getting 1% better, working hard. Yeah, doing that.”
As for what his return to the field and role in the offense under second-year coordinator Nick Caley will look like, Dell said, “It’ll play out how it’s supposed to play out.”
He said there are still “steps” to where he wants to be, but that he wants to be a “big factor.”
‘Junkyard Dog’ Tank Dell Praises Texans
GettyTank Dell drew attention during Texans training camp.
“Just trusting God. Trusting his favor, trusting everything that he has set out for me, you know, his plans can’t be denied. So that’s all it was, is trust. Trust in my process, trusting God, and I had a wonderful coaching staff and an organization from top down,” Dell said. “They told me, ‘Take the time you need. We’re gonna be with you … the whole time and just work.’ So, I was a junkyard dog, and I was just working all day.
“It wasn’t 1 day that went by–on a Sunday, I was working–one day that went by that I wasn’t out there, or inside doing something to get better that day. And now I’m here, you know.”
Dell is still “taking it one day at a time,” but that “it’s a light at the end of the tunnel, for sure.”
He also described himself as a “student of the game,” saying that he maximized his walkthrough reps during the offseason program to become more familiar with the playbook. He also studied at home with his brothers, having them call the plays.
Asked what his “biggest milestone” was, Dell said, “Touching grass for the first time” since his injury amid doubts that he would ever play again.
Tank Dell Gets Honest About C.J. Stroud & Jared Wayne
GettyC.J. Stroud and Tank Dell are back on the field together for the first time in over one year.
Dell said Texans teammate Jared Wayne, whose friendly fire was the cause of the former’s injury, wrote him apologizing for the inadvertent hit in the end zone. Dell told Wayne to “ease up” about the situation.
“This football, and I know it was a genuine mistake,” Dell said. “Nobody wanted to take out their own guy. Not even another guy, to that. So, it was a mistake. I told him, ‘Man, it’s good. God got me. Ease up, man. Go have fun, play football.’ I’d be back. So, it was cool. And it’s no hard feelings. That’s my brother, so we’re cool.”
Dell also received support from friend and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, with whom he spent plenty of time during the offseason.
He said Stroud meant “everything” to him during his recovery
“This long process, he was with me the whole time. From the first day it happened to today. Long conversations, I go to his house, he come to my house. Long conversations about the future that we want to build with each other on the field and stuff like that. But off the field, bruh, just met a brother to me. Sending me scripture, praying for me. Just hanging out with me, having fun,” Dwell said. “That’s my brother to the end with or without football.”
Tank Dell Sends Words of Encouragement
GettyTank Dell offered words of encouragment for anyone looking to overcome adversity.
Dell closed out his presser with a strong message about faith and perseverance, underscoring the Texans’ wideout’s mentality:
“First and foremost, keep God first. But don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. You put your mind to it, and your head on straight, and you focus on what you need to focus on and your goals, you can get anything you want in this life. On the field, off the field, whatever you want to do, man. You put your eyes set on your goals, you can go get it. So, just keep working hard, trust God, and yeah.”
As Dell stepped away from the podium, he gave a salute to the Texans media beat.
Texans’ Tank Dell Sends Strong Message Amid Latest Milestone