The Houston Texans are clearly banking on second-year wide receiver Tank Dell emerging as a viable replacement for Stefon Diggs.
On Tuesday, the Texans placed Diggs on injured reserve after he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in a, 23-20, Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer doesn’t expect Houston (6-2) to pursue another WR before the Nov. 5 trade deadline
“Yes, Diggs is an outstanding player and a loss for Houston,” Breer wrote in his Wednesday mailbag. “But Nico Collins is eligible to return off injured reserve next week, Tank Dell is a really good No. 2, and they both have an experienced hand (Robert Woods) and a young guy with upside (John Metchie III). I’m not really sure that an Adam Thielen or Treylon Burks would be an upgrade or get snaps over Woods or Metchie.”
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans indicated they’re not planning to acquire another wideout and mentioned he’s confident in Dell.
“Tank just has to be Tank. Tank has been an explosive player in college. He was explosive, he has been explosive for us, so Tank just has to be Tank. Happy birthday, Tank,” Ryans said of the wideout who turned 25 on Tuesday.
Whether Dell can replace Diggs — who had 47 receptions for 496 yards and three TD catches in eight games — remains to be seen.
Dell flashed promise during his rookie season in 2023, recording 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven TD catches in 11 games. His numbers have dipped in 2024. Through seven games, he only has 24 receptions for 229 yards and two TD catches.
Despite the slump, Dell insists he’s ready to raise his game after Diggs’ injury.
We have placed Stefon Diggs on the Reserve/Injured list. pic.twitter.com/3rIdEtXhB0
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 29, 2024
“Once you lose one of your star players, everybody’s got to step up,” Dell told Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV in Houston on Tuesday. “Even if you are one of the star players, you still have to do more and produce more. I know all of us are more than capable of doing that. So, we are going to try to go out there and make plays.”
Diggs’ absence may place more pressure on Dell, but he could regain his mojo in Thursday’s road game against the New York Jets. Over its past three contests, New York (2-6) has allowed 28.3 points per game.
