Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell has posted on Instagram for the first time since learning the knee injury he sustained in December could see him miss all of 2025.
Dell got hurt taking a touchdown catch in the endzone at Arrowhead Stadium against Kansas City Chiefs – he collided with teammate Jared Wayne and was taken off the field in an ambulance before staying overnight in hospital.
It emerged on Christmas Eve that Dell has torn his ACL, MCL and lateral ligaments, dislocated his knee cap and damaged his meniscus.
Furthermore, the 25-year-old is expected to need more than one surgery – which could sideline him for the entire year.
Now, in his first Instagram post since the injury, Dell posted a two-word statement to his fans.
‘Long journey,’ he wrote, alongside emojis of a bandaged heart and a hug.
View this post on Instagram
Tank Dell’s knee injury from the December Chiefs game could see him miss all of 2025
Dell had to stay overnight in Kansas City after the game, which his team lost 27-19 against the Super Bowl champions.
The Texans then claimed wide receiver Diontae Johnson off waivers from Baltimore Ravens to fill the gap left by Dell with the playoffs approaching.
Houston lost its next game badly, getting beat 31-2 by Baltimore Ravens and they round out the regular season on Sunday against Tennessee тιтans.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans thanked the Chiefs organization for helping to care for Dell when he got hurt during the game.
‘We would really like to thank the Kansas City medical team and the doctors there and their staff for being very accommodating,’ Ryans said.
‘For helping out with Tank, giving him a room, getting him set up.
‘I really thought those guys did a really unbelievable job. (Head athletic trainer) Rick Burkholder and his staff, they did an unbelievable job and very thankful to the entire Kansas City organization and their medical team.’