Texans WR Tank Dell voted 'player to root for' by NFL.com for 2025 season
Others would say a revival of Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb might suffice. Then, a handful of others would love to see Houston native and Pro Bowl-caliber nickel defender Jalen Pitre return to top-tier form following a chest injury.
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But none of those players come close to scratching the surface of the list for Houston entering the 2025 season, according to NFL.com's Dan Parr. He believes that after the outpouring of support following a second season-ending injury, Tank Dell is the top name people look at as the "fan vote" as he looks to return at some point this year.
"Something that's still seared into my memory from last season: The image of Texans QB C.J. Stroud in tears after Dell suffered a severe knee injury on a touchdown catch against the Chiefs in Week 16,," Parr wrote. "The last update from head coach DeMeco Ryans indicated that the third-year receiver was 'in a really good spot' in his rehab from the torn ACL/MCL and dislocated kneecap, but unsurprisingly, the team hasn't shared any firm timetable for when Dell might be able to get back on the field."
Part of the reason why Dell continues to be the fan favorite is because of the consistency of the injury. A third-round pick out of the University of Houston in 2023, Dell suffered a season-ending broken leg against the Denver Broncos in December, thus stopping his run toward a 1,000-yard season.
After suffering another season-ending leg injury, that adds another level of volume toward his love from the fan base.
"There can't be many (any?) players more deserving of a break from injury woes," Parr continued. "While Dell's NFL career got off to a very promising start in 2023, over the past 19 months, the wideout has suffered a broken fibula, a gunshot wound to the leg and wrist/ribs, chest, back and knee injuries. It hurt just writing that sentence. I'm pulling for a triumphant return for Dell, whenever he is ready to play again."
Last season in 14 games while splitting reps as the No. 2 and No. 3 receiver, Dell collected 51 receptions for 667 yards and three touchdowns. He has also given back to the community after breaking out from his time with the Cougars.
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Pairing his off-the-field presence with his on-field poise, it's easy to see Dell as the face of fandom. The expectation is for him to make that eventual comeback as part of Stroud's arsenal, though there's no timeline as to when he could take the field even for part-time reps.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans WR Tank Dell voted 'player to root for' by NFL.com for 2025
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