Tank Dell wasn’t going to be denied, shrugging off arm tackle attempts along his pathway into the end zone.
Streaking away from coverage and those who gave chase in vain after the catch, the Texans’ dynamic wide receiver caught a C.J. Stroud pass in stride for a 34-yard touchdown catch to open the scoring for the defending AFC South champions.
The two close friends were cooking on this collaboration to get off to a fast start during the first action of the preseason for the first-team offense Friday night in a 20-12 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“It’s good to see him back out there, get him the ball, let him do what he do,” Stroud said. “So, very happy for him, and it’s just amazing to see all the staff he’s been through to persevere through that and make a big-time play. That’s who he is, and it’s much more to come.”
Adversity wasn’t going to stop Dell, an elusive third-round draft pick and former University of Houston star.
Dell broke his fibula last season as a rookie, interrupting a successful first NFL season. Once Dell recovered from that injury that required surgery, he had to recuperate from more calamity this offseason when he was the victim in a mass shooting in Florida with a gunshot flesh wound through his leg. Nothing has deterred Dell, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound speedster who plays the game with an obvious joy, energy and acceleration that’s unmatched.
“He’s tough, he’s resilient, you can’t deny it,” Stroud said. “Just pure, one God-given talent, but just hard working, the hard work he puts in day in, day out. I think every time he touches the field, you see it on display. So, I think it’s just a start for him and he’s going to continue to grow. It’s amazing to have one of my best friends back on the field.”
Stroud and Dell picked up where they left off last season as rookies, renewing their passing connection at Acrisure Stadium to build an early lead.
Whether it’s in close quarters over the middle or running long as an ultra-dangerous deep threat, the Texans’ wide receiver is a problem for NFL defenses. Although he’s a smaller downfield target, Dell constantly shows up big and has consistently shown toughness, body control and a dynamic ability to make circus catches that other receivers can’t. Every aspect of the route tree has been mastered by Dell.
And the timing and chemistry between Stroud and Dell was on full display against the Steelers.
“I loved C.J. to Tank, that connection making a big play for us,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Tank getting it into the end zone, happy to see him back. We lost Tank last year to the injury and you see why we missed him. He’s a big-play threat every time he’s on the field. So, I was excited to see that connection make a big play for us.
“Tank is tough. Pound for pound, one of the toughest guys on our team. The ability to make guys miss and the toughness to get through the end zone, that’s who Tank is.”
Following a promising rookie season ended abruptly by a broken fibula, a fully healthy Dell is primed for his second NFL season. And a theme of improvement is obvious surrounding Dell. Whether it’s his increased knowledge of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense, his close bond and chemistry with Stroud and how much he’s always learning from older players like four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, the arrow is pointing upward for Dell and the defending AFC South champion Texans.
“I try to improve everywhere,” Dell said before the game. “Mentally, like I know what it takes to win NFL games is very hard. Just getting in the playbook, watching film every day and watching film throughout the week and being prepared. I just feel stronger I feel faster I feel blessed.”
Dell was on track for 73 catches, 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie before he broke his fibula against the Denver Broncos, ending his season as he underwent surgery to repair the damage. Even in an injury-abbreviated season, the 5-foot-8, 165-pound third-round draft pick from the University of Houston broke former Pro Bowl tight end Owen Daniels’ rookie franchise record for touchdown catches.
Four of the Texans’ catches of at least 20 yards or more came on Dell touchdown receptions. That was the third-highest mark in the league for any receiver with touchdowns of at least 20 yards, at the time of his injury.
Dell finished the season with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games and six starts with 75 targets. At training camp, Dell has been electric.
“I have just been fired up to see him pick up right where he left off,” Slowik said. “He is playing really fast, he is executing the routes really well. He has done everything we have asked him to do. He can run for days.
“He embraces all phases of the game whether it is receiver, returner, run game, all that stuff. He is all about it. He has been doing a great job. If he just keeps putting his head down and working, he is going to be where he wants to be.”
Dell is a key part of a vibrant receiving corps. Headlined by Diggs, acquired in an offseason trade from the Buffalo Bills, Collins, signed to a $75 million contract extension following a breakout season, and Dell, the Texans have a legitimate claim on being arguably the top receiving corps in the NFL. They’re firmly in the conversation along with the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals.
“It is just a cool room,” Slowik said. “There is a lot going on. Obviously as far as players, we have there that can go perform. A lot of them right now are doing that, getting better every day, showing their best selves. It is our job as we get into season and as we get into preseason games to really make sure we are putting guys in a position to go show that to everyone else. We really know what each individual is really good at and we need to keep stacking where we need improvement for each of those guys and it has been fun to see so far.”
Photo: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
A year ago, Collins had 1,297 receiving yards while Diggs piled up 1,183 yards even though the direction of the Bills’ offense tilted away from him. Collectively, this can be an extremely productive position.
Perhaps they could even have three 1,000-yard receiving seasons, which has only happened five times previously in NFL history. That feat hasn’t been accomplished since 2008 when Arizona Cardinals wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston all reached that statistical milestone. The Texans have a lot of talent, and that doesn’t only include Diggs, Collins and Dell. There’s also tight end Dalton Schultz and wide receiver Noah Brown as well as John Metchie III, Ben Skowronek, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods and Steve Sims Jr.
“We’ve got a deep group, man,” Dell said. “We’re always picking each other brains. We’re going to be special. Every time you step in a room, you want to gather information to help your future. I love it.”
Yes, the Texans are aware of the conversations surrounding the talented receiving group. Yes, they talk about it internally. And they’re not taking anything for granted. Talk is talk. Action is what counts.
“Definitely, people around are saying it, we’re saying it ourselves,” Dell said. “But, at the end of the day, we’ve still got to go out there every Monday night, Sunday night, Thursday night football. We’ve got to prove it every time we step on the field. We can say it all we want, but we’ve got to put it on the field. We’re just waiting on the moment.”
The vibes have been good around the Texans all throughout camp and during the offseason.
There haven’t been any signs of selfishness. Instead, it’s been a team-first approach from everyone.
That includes the addition of Diggs, who has emerged as a strong mentor to Dell and others, sharing tips about how to play the position at an optimal level.
“At the end of the day, I can’t be nobody else,” Diggs said. “I’m still going to be myself. Continue to build and grow in the right direction that comes from earning the respect of your teammates and being accountable with the plays and new stuff they’ve got going on.
“I’m just big on everybody kind of falling on the same sword. Me being accountable firsthand, I’m not going to be perfect, but let’s not ever coach effort and then technique. So, I feel like it’s the right thing to do, not just where I’m at in my career, but this is how I’ve been for a long time. I’ve always led from the front.”
Stroud keeps it extremely simple when it comes to distributing the football: hit the open target.
If everyone is open, connect with the man who’s most open and in position to make the biggest play possible.
At Ohio State, Diggs threw to future NFL first-round wide receivers Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. Everyone got to eat.
“It’s football,” Stroud said. “You’re open, you get the ball. My thinking is you’ve got to pick your poison playing us. Who are you going to double? Who are you going to cater to? You’ve got five dogs who are able to get the ball in each given play.
“My job is to make everybody around me better. Healthy competition is the best way to grow and get better, and I think that’s what it’s about. You see how excited Diggs gets for Tank when he makes a play.”
Diggs put it quite well when he said it’s about healthy competition, recalling his time in Buffalo with slot receiver Cole Beasley, a polished route runner.
“Right now, it’s practice, so there’s not many balls going around, but when they are in the air, it’s a healthy competition of, ‘I’m open, but who’s more open?’” Diggs said. “That’s what kind of me and Beasley used to do. We were big on separation, I got separation, he got separation, but who’s more open? That’s who should get the ball.
“But it was just like a healthy competition and I think part of being a player that’s gotten to this point, it’s a healthy paranoia of always wanting to be better. It’s just like that guy on your shoulder saying, ‘You’re not good enough.’ So, for me, pushing those guys around me is like, ‘I’m open. You get open.’ It’s healthy though. I find it positive reinforcement, positive encouragement, positive words. I speak it over myself and I speak it over those around me.”
For Dell and a leaded Texans roster headlined by Stroud, a Pro Bowl selection and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, it’s about more than defending an AFC South division title. Their ambitions are set on going much further into the postseason for a franchise that hasn’t advanced beyond the AFC divisional round previously and lost at that stage last season to the Baltimore Ravens.
Expectations are understandably high inside and outside of the organization for a team dotted with talent that includes Dell, Diggs, Collins, Dalton Schultz, Laremy Tunsil, Joe Mixon, Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Denico Autry, Azeez Al-Shaair, Christian Harris and Derek Stingley Jr.
“We ready,” Dell said. “We’re all excited. We know we have a target on our back. We got a lot of things we want to accomplish: Super Bowl, playoffs, things like that. So, we’re ready to go work.”
Aaron Wilson is a contributor to Sports Talk 790.