Texan rookie Tank Dell makes INCREDIBLE circus catch and first career landing as Houston top pick CJ Stroud struggles with NFL preseason debut
- Earlier in the evening, Dell turned on the afterburners to make a gain of 24 yards
- Stroud threw an interception during the first preseason series of his NFL career
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While most eyes were on No. 2 overall pick CJ Stroud during the Houston Texans preseason opener against the Patriots, wide receiver and third round pick Nathaniel “Tank” Dell stole the headlines with a highlight on the roll for his first touchdown in his career. .
Shortly before the end of the second quarter, on a back shoulder throw from quarterback Davis Mills, Dell turned and appeared to have taken the ball just inside the court.
But as two defenders approached, the wide receiver saw the ball slip from his grasp and shoot into the air. Somehow he managed to control the ball while lying on his back and pin it between his hand and his leg.
It capped off a promising performance for the 23-year-old. Dell finished as the game’s leading receiver, finishing the 20–9 win with five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Earlier in the same ride, Dell also showed a nice blowout after converting a high-speed incline into a 24-yard gain.
Nathaniel ‘Tank’ Dell stole the headlines with a striking touchdown catch on Thursday
Dell fell onto his back before reeling in the bubbling ball into the front corner of the endzone
“It was good to see Tank play, he played all through training camp,” said coach DeMeco Ryans. “It was good to see him do the same here, in a game. So he can be an explosive playmaker for us. We look forward to him making plays for us.’
Dell built an impressive career at the University of Houston, where he hit over 1,300 yards in two of his three seasons.
In his senior season at school, he led the NCAA with 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022.
On Thursday night, social media was abuzz after Dell’s grab went viral.
“Tank Dell TOUCHDOWN Mans is 5’8″, 165 pounds, but still scores on a perfect shoulder fade, a route where size is a big factor,” said one user.
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“It may not happen right away, but Tank Dell is going to be a thing this year,” fantasy football expert Matthew Berry tweeted.
“Um…Tank Dell sure looks like he can play,” NFL Network’s Albert Breer tweeted.
As for Stroud, on the other hand, it was a much less impressive showing during his first moments of NFL action.
The Ohio State product went only 2-4 for 13 yards and an interception before taking the game out. He also rushed for 6 yards twice and was sacked once.
Stroud only played two series during the preseason game. Head coach Ryans still praised his young signaler after the game, saying, “A good first outing for him.”