Texans rookie wide receiver Tank Dell had to be carted off the field during their Week 13 game against the Broncos after suffering an apparent ankle injury. He was eventually diagnosed with a broken fibula.
Houston fans, already upset that one of their best young players appeared to be seriously injured, were also furious with how the injury occurred.
Dell was blocking on an inside Dameon Pierce run that resulted in a touchdown when a Broncos defender landed awkwardly on his ankle. Houston fans took to Twitter, formerly known as X, and demanded to know why Dell was anywhere near the play.
The Texans may like what Dell does for them as a blocker, but anything can happen in a goal-line scrum.
Still can’t make sense of this. Why did the Texans put Tank Dell anywhere near this goal line play. Mind boggling decision making. pic.twitter.com/G7ssxJgJvK
— James Roy (@n1texansfan) December 3, 2023
Somebody will have to tell me why Tank Dell is anywhere near that kind of scrum. Makes zero sense.
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) December 3, 2023
Watching Tank Dell get carted off on a play design that had him blocking on an inside run near the goal line is...really frustrating.
— Al Smizzle (@AlZeidenfeld) December 3, 2023
A player suffering an injury is always disheartening, but when such a situation could have been avoided entirely, it adds a layer of frustration to the mix. That’s how Texans fans are feeling after one of their team’s stars is lost for the remaining season.
#Texans WR Tank Dell, whose breakout performance this season has sparked his team’s offense, suffered a fractured fibula, source said. He’s headed for IR, as Houston loses one of its stars. pic.twitter.com/vATNSwRbAi
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 3, 2023
Dell, 24, was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft by Houston. He's made them look very good for that decision, as he had racked up 47 receptions for 709 receiving yards and seven touchdowns heading into Week 13 action. The rookie had been held without a catch before exiting the game Sunday.
