Dell has 20 receptions for 194 yards and one touchdown for the 5-2 Texans, missing one game with badly bruised ribs suffered against the Minnesota Vikings. Dell is on pace for 49 catches for 471 yards and two scores.

“With Tank, he just has to keep going,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I believe in Tank, believe he’ll be able to make some big-time explosive plays for us. He just has to keep going and he will do that. I have all the faith in Tank.”

Dell is averaging 9.7 yards per catch with a long reception of 23 yards and 11 first downs. Dell was more of a deep threat as a rookie when he caught 47 passes for 709 yards and a franchise rookie receiving record of seven touchdowns as he averaged 15.1 yards per catch before breaking his fibula 11 games into the season.

“I think it is very important,” Stroud said of the need to get Dell the football more. “We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there. It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job, to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So, yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

“I think it is very important,” Stroud said when asked how important he felt it was to get Dell involved. “We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there. It has to be a focus for us, not only just him but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”

Dell’s role has been reduced a bit with so many of the targets distributed to Collins, who caught 32 passes for 567 yards and three scores before the injury as well as Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who leads the Texans with 42 receptions for 415 yards and three touchdowns. There’s less of a workload for Dell right now in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s playbook.

“I would say just him being himself, our team owning our identity and really just playing what we see,” Stroud said earlier this month. “I think last year was last year. Even though I think he did really great last year, I know he wants to move on from that and do well this year. And he’s very motivated. We’re motivated to get him rolling, too. So, it’s part of my job to get him the ball and to make sure that he gets his fair amount of targets just like everybody else. But, no, that’s definitely a key component to this game is getting Tank Dell going because I think he’s one of the best receivers in this league.”

Dell is remaining patient as he carries out his assignments in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik’s offense.

“It’s just go out and try to make the plays that come to me,” Dell said. “Bobby is going to dial it up and call what he needs to call to win the game.”

The A-Team w/ Wexler & Clanton