The Houston Texans are gearing up for an eventful offseason, and one of the biggest needs is a receiver opposite Nico Collins.
Collins is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection, catching 68 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns. But with Stefon Diggs’ status up in the air, Collins agreed to restructure his contract in a move that cleared up $9.8 million in cap space on Tuesday.
That news made the Texans’ receiving picture a little clearer. The Texans could use that money to keep Diggs next season or invest it elsewhere, such as the offensive line. But while we may have to wait a week for many of those questions to be answered, another piece of the puzzle was provided when Tank Dell received an update on his season-ending injury.
Tank Dell Undergoes Surgery to Fix Torn ACL
According to KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, Dell underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on Tuesday. Dell previously had surgery to repair his lateral collateral (LCL) and medial collateral ligaments (MCL) after injuring all three and dislocating his kneecap in a December game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but the timeline of this surgery makes his return a little clearer.
#Texans wide receiver Tank Dell undergoing surgery today to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament. Previously, Dr. Walter Lowe repaired his lateral collateral and medial collateral ligaments torn in December game at Arrowhead Stadium. Road to recovery continues @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 5, 2025
UCHealth states that it generally takes nine months to recover from ACL surgery. While Dell’s additional injuries complicate things, the nine-month timeline would have Dell on track to return in early December. This means that the Texans likely can’t count on Dell to be on the field for a long chunk of the 2025 season and makes finding a secondary receiver a priority.
Dell was a third-round pick by the Texans in the 2023 draft and has been productive, catching 98 passes for 1,376 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first two seasons. But while he’s been a deep threat for Houston on the field, he’s had trouble staying on it, suffering a broken fibula that ended his rookie season after eight games.
The Texans could bring back Diggs as a short-term solution, but he is also recovering from an injury after tearing his ACL last October. Diggs is also the top available receiver on the market and Spotrac estimates he could command $13.5 million annually when free agency opens on March 12.
If the Texans can’t bring back Diggs and Dell is unlikely to return next season, Houston may be inclined to use their newfound savings to find a replacement. If Dell appears to be ready, it could lessen the need to target a receiver.
Whatever the case, the Texans have a clearer picture after Wednesday’s news and can now plan for a path forward.