HOUSTON -- Tank Dell's comeback from a major knee injury will have to wait at least four more weeks.
The Houston Texans wideout was placed on injured reserve Sunday as the team made its 53-man roster cuts, and Dell won't be eligible to return to action until Week 5.
Dell missed all of 2025 after suffering multiple torn ligaments and a dislocated kneecap in the Texans' Week 16 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024. He was hurt when wideout Jared Wayne collided with his knee after he caught a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud.
Dell landing on injured reserve isn't a surprise.
While he didn't start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, indicating he was ready to practice, most times, he took part in only individual drills. There were two days when he participated in team drills and only one was with pads -- the ultimate barometer to show whether a player returning from an injury is ready for physical contact. He did catch a pass over the middle from backup quarterback Davis Mills during the only team session he was involved in Aug. 10, but that morning was the last time he engaged in 11-on-11s.
Dell didn't practice in either of the Texans' joint sessions against the Carolina Panthers and the Las Vegas Raiders, either.
Throughout camp, Houston coach DeMeco Ryans explained how Dell's comeback still had steps to clear. Ryans was asked Aug. 17 whether Dell would be ready for the regular season, and the coach preached patience, saying Houston had a plan for its 2023 third-round pick.
"Tank Dell is on his own plan," Ryans said. "So however that looks, whatever it entails, it'll be all geared toward what's best for Tank Dell."
Dell is the second Texans receiver to land on injured reserve; Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending torn ACL during joint practices with the Raiders.
Houston will rely on wideouts Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, recently acquired Kayshon Boutte and Jaylin Noel to fill the void. Sixth-round rookie wideout Lewis Bond also was cut Sunday.
