C.J. Stroud Discusses Tank Dell's Knee Injury, Calls Texans WR His 'Best Friend'
December 21, 2024
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was visibly emotional when discussing the left knee injury that led to wide receiver Tank Dell's hospitalization following Saturday's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
"It's not easy to just let it go, especially, that's my best friend," Stroud said after the game. "Not easy to move on and keep playing, but I tried to do as best as I could.
"My teammates held me up. Joe [Mixon] held me up, and Dalton [Schultz]. All of them, I appreciate those guys talking to me, because I was going through it. So I appreciate them being there for me."
Texans wideout Nico Collins meanwhile told reporters that it "hurt to see [Dell] go down."
Dell suffered the knee injury after catching a touchdown pass from Stroud in the third quarter.
He was taken to the University of Kansas Hospital and will remain there Saturday night, head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters (h/t ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime.)
The touchdown brought the Texans within one point of a tie, but it was immediately clear that Dell had been injured on the play after colliding with a teammate.
As Dell had his left leg placed in an air cast and was carted off the field, the broadcast showed Mixon comforting Stroud after he was left visibly upset by the injury.
The Texans were unable to gather any offensive momentum following Dell's injury. After missing the extra point on the touchdown, Houston was held to a single field goal on their final three drives of the game.
Ryans said after Saturday's game that Dell's injury was "significant." According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Dell suffered a dislocated knee cap that is still being evaluated by doctors.
"Surgery is possible, but has not yet happened," Rapoport wrote on Saturday night.
Heading into Saturday, Dell had made 45 catches while recording 569 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. He recorded six catches for 98 yards against the Chiefs prior to his injury.
This marks the second straight campaign during which Dell has suffered a serious leg injury during a game. He missed the final six games of the regular season and two postseason contests after suffering a fractured fibula against the Denver Broncos in Week 13 of the 2023 season.
