Tank Dell ended a nearly two-year scoring drought with a 63-yard touchdown catch in the Houston Texans’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The touchdown came just before halftime at SoFi Stadium and gave Houston a 17-9 lead in the second quarter.
Dell’s long touchdown reception came off a deep pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud. Dell broke free on the right side of the field and sprinted into the end zone, marking his first touchdown since suffering a severe knee injury in late 2024. The Texans’ wide receiver has only played two games since returning from that injury, with Sunday’s score representing a milestone in his comeback.
The injury happened during a December 2024 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Dell was in the process of scoring a 30-yard touchdown when teammate Jared Wayne collided with him, accidentally crashing into Dell’s left knee. The impact resulted in multiple ligament tears, meniscus damage, and a dislocated knee joint. Dell was taken off the field on a stretcher and missed the entire 2025 season while recovering.
Before the knee injury, Dell’s career had already been interrupted by serious setbacks. During his rookie season, he fractured his fibula. In 2024, he was also wounded in the leg after being caught in a mass shooting in Florida as a bystander. Despite these challenges, Dell returned to action late last season and made his first appearance back on the field in the Texans’ 27-20 overtime loss to the New York Giants.
Sunday’s touchdown was Dell’s second catch of the game and only his third reception of the season. The Texans entered the match with a 2-5 record, while the Chargers remained the only team in the league without a win. Dell’s touchdown brought hope to Houston’s struggling offence, even though the season has yet to show significant progress for the franchise.
The touchdown was captured live on CBS and NFL Plus, with the NFL’s official Twitter account sharing the highlight of Stroud’s pass to Dell. The catch was a sharp reminder of Dell’s speed and ability when healthy.
Houston’s head coach did not immediately comment on Dell’s performance, and the Texans have not released an update on the player’s condition following the game.
This season, Dell has been cautious in his approach to returning to full form, and Sunday’s touchdown caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. The Texans will look to build on this momentum as they continue their campaign.
According to Yahoo Sports.
