Tank Dell addresses C.J. Stroud's critics, confidently promising a "special" reunion and renewed offensive fireworks in 2026.
The Houston Texans gave fans plenty of reasons for optimism following the 2023 season. 2023 was expected to be some sort of down year under a new regime, but C.J. Stroud lit up the field for his rookie season, and other players like Nico Collins, Will Anderson, and Tank Dell emerged as major contributors. Things have not gone poorly since then, but the franchise has not made much progress as it has been knocked out of the Divisional round of the postseason in three consecutive years.
Houston's offense was the team's downfall in 2025. Both the run and passing games struggled at times, but the defense was good enough to keep the team afloat and secure a bunch of wins. One reason for the offensive struggles was the continued regression of Stroud, but the unit was also missing wide receiver Tank Dell.
Dell suffered a gruesome knee injury near the end of the 2024 season while playing against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the injury was so bad that it kept him out for the entirety of the 2025 season.
It has been said that Dell will be ready to go for 2026, and he was asked about that and the regression of his quarterback while speaking with the media, "People can say what they want about 7. They sitting on the couch and just typing on they computers, but everybody knows who 7 is. Especially in the facility. We know who he is. When we get back out there it's going to be special. So you can let them say what they want."
Stroud and Dell were rookies in the 2023 season, and the two showed off an immediate connection. Ultimately, it feels as if Stroud plays better when Dell is out there on the field, and that is why the wide receiver believes things will be special again in 2026.
The duo connected on 47 passes during their rookie season for over 700 yards and seven touchdowns. They were extremely productive as Stroud put together one of the best rookie seasons of all time for a quarterback, and that is what the franchise hopes they will get back to. As long as Dell can stay healthy going into 2026, Stroud's performance should continue to improve. That is especially true if the organization can find a reliable way to build the offensive line. Stroud needs better protection, and his struggles aren't entirely on him.