A sickening new angle on Tank Dell’s horror knee injury has emerged as the Houston Texans star remains hospitalized in Kansas City.
Dell took a 30-yard catch against the Chiefs in the early stages of the third quarter, but Texans receiver Jared Wayne tumbled into Dell as they both went to the ground.
Dell retained possession of the ball, but was removed from the game by emergency personnel by cart with his leg immobilized in a brace. It was later revealed that Dell had dislocated his kneecap and that surgery was possible as the extent of the damage was still being assessed on Saturday evening.
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud was visibly emotional as Dell left and appeared to be fighting back tears.
Broadcaster NBC said in their reporting that there were certain angles in the replay that they would not show, but that one nasty angle appeared on the broadcast before the severity of the injury was clear.
And now, a doctor named Jeff Mueller — who often goes viral on social media with analysis of NFL injuries — shared the angle on the incident that NBC didn’t repeat after the first time.
“FYI I’ll keep scrolling if you don’t want to see this, it’s brutal,” Mueller wrote before giving his take on the injury.
Tank Dell –
FYI, I’ll keep scrolling if you don’t want to see this, it’s brutal.
Left knee probably multiligament plus dislocation, also risk of fracture. Probably rushed to hospital to assess arterial risk.
pic.twitter.com/kXLjjBRHhV— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 21, 2024
Tank Dell’s knee injury was so bad that NBC refused to show replays from certain angles
Dell was injured making a 30-yard catch for a touchdown for the Texans against the Chiefs
‘Left knee probably multiligament plus dislocation, risk of fracture too. Probably rushed to hospital to assess arterial risk.’
He added in a separate post: ‘Gut says there is no arterial involvement. But they’re probably still rushing him to review it. In these situations involving significant trauma, it is always better to be safe than sorry.”
Dell is currently being treated at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where the Texans have said he will spend the night.
“Tank has a significant knee injury,” Texans coach DaMeco Ryan said after the game. “He will spend one night here in Kansas City pending further evaluation.
“All our thoughts and prayers are with Tank at this time. You’ve seen what he means to our entire team. It hurts to see him go down like this. He had a fantastic game and played very well for us.
“He was in a fantastic place and we want to keep him in our thoughts and prayers now.”
Stroud’s emotional reaction to Dell getting hurt likely had to do with the difficulties Dell overcame to get on the field in the 2024 season.
The 25-year-old was shot in April during the NFL offseason in Sanford, Florida, but suffered “a minor wound,” according to the Texans.
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud appeared to hold back tears when he saw Dell get hurt
Dell finished his 2023 rookie season with 709 yards and seven touchdowns for the Texans.
But his year was cut short after he suffered a broken leg in a game against the Denver Broncos in early December.
The Texans lost Saturday’s game 27-19 to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.