All eyes were on C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young in Week 8 at Bank of America Stadium, but Tank Dell was all ears.
The Houston Texans’ third-round receiver had a chance to visit with former Carolina Panthers wideout Steve Smith ahead of the Texans’ tilt with Carolina in Week 8 on Oct. 29. The Texans’ social media captured Dell taking in instruction from a two-time All-Pro, a conversation that went for seven minutes during pre-game.
Chopping it up with @SteveSmithSr89 pic.twitter.com/oJLAGcEPsa
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 29, 2023
One can only wonder why Smith sought Dell out. Perhaps it could be the undersized Smith, who played the game at 5-9, 195 pounds, saw similarities with the 5-10, 165-pound Dell.
“That is between me and him,” Smith told the Texans Wire with a massive smile. “If you want to know, ask him, but I will tell you that it was receiver talk and two sponges soaking in knowledge from one another. He is going to be very good if he stays on his grind.”
Dell didn’t have his best game as the Panthers edged Houston 15-13. However, it only took a week for Dell to synchronize the advice and wisdom from Smith and apply it to the gridiron as part of the Texans’ comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Cut on the tape, and I don’t think Tank knows he is that size,” Brown told reporters about Dell playing above his stature. #Texans #Sarge @TheTexansWire pic.twitter.com/aY9ftpoNJA
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) November 8, 2023
The former Houston Cougar caught six passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including the 15-yard strike to give Houston the 39-37 lead with 48 seconds left.
After the thriller against the Bucs that delivered Houston a 4-4 record, Dell was forthcoming to the Texans Wire as to what Smith shared a week prior.
“We talked about route running,” Dell said. “He told me about press releases and being a dog on every play. You know how he was during his playing days. He was telling me what I can get better.”
Dell led the NCAA Div. I with 17 touchdowns and 1,398 receiving yards last season, and Smith took notice. The 16-year NFL veteran, who spent his final three with the Baltimore Ravens, summarized Dell’s traits on his eponymous podcast ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
Said Smith: “His explosiveness, his RAC (run after catch), and he does a great job of setting up defenders and dynamic with the ball in his hands. He makes you think, ‘Where is Tank Dell’ at on the field. He has the ability to run away from defenders; he has the ability to beat press coverage. He also has the field awareness that you really want out of your wide receiver. He is a Tank.”
Not only has Dell garnered praise from other former NFL players, but inside his locker room, the accolades flow from his position group and offensive coordinators, and rightfully so, as he is only second to Texans Ring of Honor member Andre Johnson (495) in rookie receiving yards with 454 through their first seven games played.
While Dell is putting his name in the stat sheet, the rookie is finding other ways to help the offense without the ball.
PUT SOME RESPECT ON TANK DELL NAME AS WELL!!!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) November 5, 2023
On the first offensive play from scrimmage for Houston in the third quarter, Stroud completed a pass to wide receiver Noah Brown. While trying to avoid defenders, Dell put a massive block on the Bucs’ safety to create a clear path for Brown to the end zone.
“Cut on the tape, and I don’t think Tank knows he is that size,” Brown told reporters about Dell playing above his stature. “He is willing to go in there and do whatever it is he has to do, and I respect him for that, and I appreciate that. He is special; he will go across the middle and make a catch or throw a block. He is in there doing what he has to do.”
