(Photo credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Tank Dell is working hard to recover from the 'devastating' knee injury that cost him the entire 2025 season, but was vague when discussing a potential timeline for the wide receiver's return to the field.

Dell underwent surgery in December 2024 to repair a dislocated kneecap, torn ACL and other damage suffered while making a touchdown catch in a game against Kansas City. He was sidelined all of last season, and Ryans said the 26-year-old has been a constant at the team's facility this offseason.

'Tank has been around, working out all throughout the offseason while no one else was here,' Ryans said during his pre-draft press conference on Monday. 'Tank has been here working, grinding in the background.

'I'm excited to see Tank when it is his time to get back out and play football, as is everybody here. We all love Tank. We've seen the ability that he has, the big playmaking ability. Nobody loves Tank more than me.'

General manager Nick Caserio said Monday that the team likely won't know more about Dell's return to the field until later in the spring.

Dell finished his second NFL season in 2024 second on the Texans with 667 yards and three touchdowns on 51 receptions in 14 games. He had 47 receptions for 709 yards and seven scores in 11 games (eight starts) as a rookie in 2023.

'I'm hopeful that we can get him back to playing, back to the level that he was playing,' Ryans said. 'We know how devastating of an injury that was for Tank, so I'm proud of the young man. For him just working in the background, working in silence to be back here working out with the guys and having that opportunity to go play again.'

Ryans commended Dell's energy and said at times he needs to be pulled back from trying to push too hard.

'He has an individual plan that he's working on. Our team does a great job of just remaining consistent and understanding the big picture,' Ryans said. 'Everybody's excited. Offseason program, we start, but we don't play football today. So, there is a process, there is a long-range view that we're working to get Tank back to playing football.'

--Field Level Media