Texans rookie standout Tank Dell out for season with fractured fibula

The Houston Texans notched a huge victory over the 6-5 Denver Broncos on Sunday to move to 7-5 on the season. However, the win came at a cost. Star rookie receiver Tank Dell reportedly suffered a fractured fibula in his leg that will knock him out for the remainder of the season, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The Texans ended up topping Denver 22-17 without Dell’s assistance.

The injury occurred in the first quarter after Dell’s left leg got wrapped up under a Broncos defender making a tackle on running back Dameon Pierce. Prior to his injury, the rookie didn’t record a catch in the win.

Tank Dell with what looks like a tough leg injury. Hate to see it… pic.twitter.com/jcCobx0TrW

— Dynasty Zoltan (Mike Garai) (@DynastyZoltanFF) December 3, 2023

Dell, the second-round pick out of Houston, is in the middle of a sensational rookie season for the Texans. He entered Sunday having hauled in 49 receptions for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. Dell is second behind Puka Nacua (924) of the Los Angeles Rams (5-6) in yards by a rookie wideout.

CJ Stroud leads Houston Texans to win No. 7

With Dell sidelined, rookie quarterback CJ Stroud leaned on Nico Collins in the passing game. Collins hauled in a team-leading nine receptions for 191 yards and a score. He is now just nine yards away from his first-career 1,000-yard season.

Stroud finished the game with 274 yards and one touchdown off of 16-for-27 passing. He took five sacks from the Broncos defense but kept the ball secure, unlike Broncos QB Russell Wilson. Wilson finished the game with three interceptions.

After the win, Houston Texans legend JJ Watt had extremely high praise for first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans after he witnessed two of the Texans’ best young stars on defense have huge games on Sunday. Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. had two interceptions and rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. had two sacks.

“DeMeco Ryans: Coach of the Year,” Watt wrote on X, adding, “It’s not just the offense that has bright young stars in Houston. DeMeco is building something really special down there.”

The Texans hadn’t won seven or more games in a season since 2019. Watt was still in Houston in those days.

Since the Indianapolis Colts beat the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, they have the same record as Houston exiting Week 13. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars are leading the AFC South with an 8-3 record and a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals this week.