ESPN REPORT: Texans Lose A Talented Mega-Star To Florida…..
The Houston Texans have provided an encouraging update on their wide receiver, Tank Dell, who was recently involved in a shooting incident in Florida.
Just three weeks after the event, Dell has been spotted back on the practice field, fully participating in the Texans’ organised team activities (OTAs). The player had suffered a minor gunshot wound when a bullet passed through his leg, but he’s shown remarkable resilience since then.
Dell was in the wrong place at the wrong time, with law enforcement officials confirming that he had no connection to the alleged 16-year-old shooter. Despite this setback, the 24 year old receiver has remained focused on his return to the game.
His determination is evident in recent videos showing him training hard and smoothly transitioning through offseason workouts. These clips have caught the attention of scouts, who are impressed by his apparent lack of setbacks.
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A video from a recent practice session has surfaced online, featuring Dell executing his signature double moves and deep routes with precision. He can be seen connecting seamlessly with quarterback CJ Stroud, making tough plays downfield.
In one particularly impressive moment, Dell uses his speed to weave through defenders, resulting in a touchdown during a live practice session. This play drew cheers from those present at the practice facilities, as coaches were left impressed by his recovery.
Amid the challenges posed by Dell’s incident, the Texans demonstrated support for their player, maintaining a close-knit bond with the wide receiver throughout his recovery journey. General Manager Nick Caserio exemplified the team’s solidarity by visiting Dell during rehabilitation.
“Tank is doing great,” Caserio said to Sports Radio 610. “We have had conversations with him. We have visited with him. DeMeco [Ryans] had a chance to talk to him the other day. He is doing okay. Certainly, making progress. He has been in and out of the building. So, right now, he is in a pretty good state of mind. Tank is a great kid. He has done a lot for our program already. Hopefully, things can keep moving in the right direction.”
In his Houston rookie campaign last season, Dell had 47 receptions, totaling 709 receiving yards, and scored seven touchdowns. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns for November, a testament to his impact in the red zone.
Stroud expressed his support and friendship for Dell through several interviews online. Dell reciprocated, calling Stroud one of his closest friends off the field in an interview with NFL Network. “Off the field, that’s my brother, one of my best friends,” Dell declared. “He works hard on the field, for sure. He’s just special.”
The Detroit Lions could use some more depth at wide receiver, something that the Houston Texans now have in spades after trading for Stefon Diggs.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the teams could help each other out, with the Lions targeting veteran wide receiver Robert Woods in a trade that would give some salary cap relief and a draft pick to the Texans. It would also allow the Lions to replace some of the production lost when receiver Josh Reynolds left in free agency.
Robert Woods the ‘Odd Man Out’
Barnwell noted that the Texans have a very deep wide receiver room, with Diggs joining Nico Collins and Tank Dell, plus talented John Metchie expected to return to full health after missing his rookie season with a leukemia diagnosis and starting slow last year.
He noted that the strong additions to the wide receiver room could leave Woods expendable, and his contract a bit heavy on the salary cap.
“The odd man out is likely going to be Woods, who doesn’t play much on special teams and has a $6.3 million base salary this year,” Barnwell wrote. “Only $1.3 million of that figure is guaranteed, but the Texans likely will release Woods if he doesn’t take a pay cut for the remaining amount or retire.”
The Lions could provide another option, potentially trading for Woods and giving the Texans salary cap relief along with a mid-round draft pick swap, Barnwell speculated.
Lions Have Room in Receiver Room
As ESPN’s Eric Woodyard noted, the Lions have an opening at the No. 3 receiver spot after the departure of Reynolds in free agency. He was a reliable third option last season, leaning on the chemistry he built with quarterback Jared Goff during their time on the Los Angeles Rams while making 40 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns.
“Although the Lions have [Amon-Ra] St. Brown, an All-Pro, and Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta returning, there’s an opportunity for someone to step into a big role,” Woodyard wrote. “Third-year receiver Jameson Williams will certainly be in the mix in addition to Donovan Peoples-Jones and Antoine Green. Former Illinois receiver Isaiah Williams was also signed as an undrafted free agent rookie and could be a steal.”
The Lions took a major to address the top of their wide receiver room this offseason. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Lions and St. Brown agreed to a four-year contract extension worth more than $120 million, including $77 million in guaranteed money.
