Texans WR Tank Dell’s Injury Update after Gunshot Wound

Delfonte Diamond trains wide receivers.

Tank Dell, the Texans’ wide receiver, is on the mend after suffering a gunshot wound.

According to accounts, Dell had a flesh wound in a mass shooting in Florida, with the bullet penetrating the rear of his leg and passing through the front of his leg.

Dell and his trainer, Delfonte Diamond, posted videos of him running routes and performing drills at the University of Houston indoor training facility on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Diamond shared that Dell had a clear message for him as they resumed their offseason workouts:

“It’s time to go. I’m ready to go.”

In the workout videos, Dell’s explosiveness was evident.

“Oh man, Tank looked good,” Diamond told KPRC 2. “It’s the real deal. He hasn’t lost a step. Even though that stuff happened, three is ready to go.”

Diamond highlighted that Dell is his usual energetic, hard-working self.

“Oh yeah, his mental state is good,” Diamond said. “Big smile. He gave me a hug. He told me he loved me. He said, ‘It’s time to work.’ His spirits are in a good place.”

What’s next for Dell? The Texans have organized team activity workouts and an upcoming full-team minicamp. Diamond believes coach DeMeco Ryans and team officials will likely hold him out for the most part until training camp.

“I think DeMeco will sit him out until the big camp in July,” Diamond said. “I’m sure he’ll watch practice. DeMeco wants him to do routes on air. He’ll be at practice, I’m sure, but not full-go.”

Dell was quickly released from the hospital after being shot, traveled back to Houston, and has been making a solid recovery as he works to get back on the field.

Diamond finds Dell’s resilience remarkable.

“Tough isn’t the word,” Diamond said. “If there’s a word past tough, that’s Tank. He responds to everything. That’s a really good trait.

“He is in love with the game. He’s always telling me, ‘I don’t care what’s thrown my way, I’m always going to respond and come back even harder.’ That’s his motto.”

 

 

In the wake of Dell recently suffering a gunshot wound as an innocent bystander during a mass shooting in Florida, the Texans are relieved and grateful that his injuries were relatively minor and that he is expected to make a full recovery.

Sources indicate Dell is “very lucky” to be alive and to have avoided structural damage to his leg, as he was caught in crossfire in Sanford, Fla. between two shooters, one of whom, a 16-year-old suspect, has been arrested and is in custody.

“It’s frightening,” Texans principal owner Cal McNair said during the team’s annual charity golf tournament. “You just try not to get into those situations, and sometimes it happens. We’re just grateful that no one was seriously hurt, and it looks like Tank is making a full recovery. I saw him in the office the other day, and he looked good, in good spirits. So, he’ll have to rehab and get back to where he was.”

Head coach DeMeco Ryans emphasized that Dell will be fine. “I talked to Tank, we had a good conversation,” Ryans said. “I’ve talked to him several times, and Tank will be fine.”

Both Ryans and the McNair family stated that their conversations with Dell about the incident will remain private. “That’s kind of between us and Tank,” Texans foundation vice president Hannah McNair said. “That’s a hard situation to discuss.”

Dell is healing quickly and is expected to be cleared for physical activity this spring, aiming for a full recovery before training camp in July, according to sources. Dell was released from the hospital one day after the incident and returned to Houston. The altercation, which took place at Cabana Live, resulted in ten people, including Dell, sustaining non-life-threatening injuries, primarily to their legs, according to Seminole County law enforcement officials.

Recently, Dell posted a photograph of himself on Instagram wearing the Texans’ new red uniform with the caption: “God I thank you,” accompanied by a praying hands emoji.

Since the incident, Dell has visited the Texans’ training facility to meet with team officials, including head coach DeMeco Ryans.

“We have been made aware that Tank Dell was a victim of a shooting in Sanford, Fla., last night,” the Texans said in a statement last weekend. “He sustained a minor wound, but has been released from the hospital and he is in good spirits. We are in contact with him and his family and will provide more updates when appropriate, but we ask that you please respect his privacy at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the incident.”

Dell was in Florida visiting his mother in his hometown of Daytona Beach.

The Texans’ dynamic wide receiver previously made a full and speedy recovery from a broken fibula that interrupted a strong rookie season.

“Tank is a great person, a great player, came from Hannah’s school, she’s a proud Cougar,” Cal McNair said, referring to the former third-round draft pick’s alma mater, the University of Houston. “It’s good for the city.”

Dell has been actively participating in the Texans’ offseason conditioning program, engaging in extra throwing sessions with Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud and additional training sessions with NFL trainer Justin Allen and private coach Delfonte Diamond.

“He looks great,” Stroud said in April. “He’s gotten a lot better. Mentally, I think for both of us, really all of the rookies coming into Year 2, everything is starting to slow down, and the wheels aren’t turning so much up in your head. You’re starting to play ball. Being able to throw with him in L.A. was really big.”

Dell was on track for 73 catches, 1,096 yards, and 11 touchdowns when he got hurt. He broke tight end Owen Daniels’ rookie franchise record for touchdown catches.

Four of the Texans’ catches of at least 20 yards or more came from Dell’s touchdown receptions. At the time of his injury, this was the third-highest mark in the league for any receiver with touchdowns of at least 20 yards.

“Tank is back and he’s starting to get in with our guys here with the offseason programs,” Ryans said on April 15 at NRG Stadium. “So, I’m excited to have Tank back. That was a devastating loss for us last year, losing him. He’s such a dynamic player for us, such an inspiration for myself and a lot of our team. So, I’m excited to see Tank back working with our guys, and excited to see him make that same jump I talked about from Year One to Year Two.”

Perhaps Dell could become a Pro Bowl selection one day.

“I think so, too,” trainer Justin Allen said. “I think the injury cut him short, but God has a plan. I’m excited to see what he does in Year 2 and he will reap all the benefits. One thing I like about working with him is his attitude. You can’t teach it. Very few players have that type of talent combined with his mindset and humble eagerness.”

“To be honest with you, he hasn’t lost a beat,” trainer Delfonte Diamond told KPRC 2. “He looks 10 times faster. Yes sir, he’s a special breed. He’s moving like he’s always been doing. He ran full speed.”

Dell previously told KPRC he would be ready for organized team activities in the spring.

“He’ll be more than ready for the time OTAs jump off,” Diamond stated. “He’s well ahead of plan. I can’t wait to see No. 3 put his helmet back on. That first year was a teaser. He’s planning to raise the price.”

Watching his good friend Stroud put on a display at the Pro Bowl Games fueled Dell’s desire to return to the field and catch passes from the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“Yeah, definitely by the time they come back, I’m going to hit the ground running,” Dell told KPRC 2 at the Tristar Productions autograph presentation at NRG Arena following the season. “I am going to be ready.

I’m simply waiting for 7 and those guys to return from their vacation, and then we’ll resume work.

“The offseason has been excellent; I’ve just been rehabbing every day from Monday to Friday, with Saturdays on my own. I’m trying to get one percent better so that when we return for OTAs, I’ll be ready to go.”

Dell was injured in the 11th game of the season while blocking a red-zone run, when bodies awkwardly crunched his leg in a scrum.

Although the season ended prematurely, and Dell could have helped the AFC South champs, the Florida native set a team rookie record with seven touchdown catches. He finished with 47 catches for 709 yards.

 

Dell put on a show as a rookie, delivering a number of explosive displays and establishing a strong passing connection with Stroud.

Dell excelled despite being relatively undersized at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, thanks to a mix of excellent route running abilities, body control, and speed.

Dell is currently focusing on establishing another quality: patience.

 

 

“I just feel that was a test run for me,” Dell explained. “I had much more to show, but God puts you through things for a reason. So I just held my head high. I know the coming years will be special here. It’s going to be good.”

One year after a 3-13-1 season under former coach Lovie Smith, the Texans finished 11-8 under coach DeMeco Ryans and won the division title for the first time since 2019. They defeated the Cleveland Browns in the playoffs before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round.

“It’s been great seeing the guys accomplish so much,” Dell stated. “This year, so many people underestimated us. We wanted more, but that’s only a stepping stone, a beginning point for where we want to go in the future.”

Dell was sent to the hospital after being injured to have surgery on his leg. During his convalescence, he was visited or received notes from various people.

“Tank is my brother,” Stroud explained. “I don’t think blood will bring us any closer. I believe that shows on the field, and we intend to build on it. It occurs naturally. We are boys. You don’t force things on your boy. We’re both very excited to keep this continuing and work hard to achieve greatness.”

Dell has an appealing personality and a passion for the game. He has a wide range of paths due to his ability to sell them convincingly.

Now it’s time for a comeback.

“God gives his strongest soldiers the toughest battles, so it made me grow a lot and made me sit back and really dedicate my whole life to playing football,” Dell stated. “It demonstrated how much I needed this sport. This is why I keep going. This is my blessing in life, I believe, simply being out here and making other people happy. “The fans, coaches, and teammates.”

The friendship Dell and Stroud formed is solid.

They’re banking on each other to build on last year’s success and produce an even greater season this year.

“That came to fruition, so we’re just trying to keep going,” Dell stated. “Everyone understands the ultimate aim is the Super Bowl. So that’s what we’re working toward starting today.”